JASON SURE LOCK

Jenkins hasn’t put a foot wrong since joining the Blues

JASON JENKINS is giving Leinster what they were missing in their failed Champions Cup and URC campaigns last year.

The Blues were once again beaten into submission by La Rochelle’s big pack in the Champions Cup and, in the URC, the Stormers from South Africa brought a new physical edge to the competition.

Jenkins – a once-capped Springbok – had an injury-hit first season in Ireland in Munster colours last year.

But Leinster were quick to snap him up, identifying the forward as a player who could make a vital difference.

“You could say that,” said Leinster’s forward coach Robin Mcbryde (inset), ahead of Leinster’s first scrap with one of the South African franchises this season as the Sharks come to the RDS on Saturday.

“We weren’t that far away, but the more people of quality you’ve got in your ranks, then the higher the competitiveness.

“He sees the game differently. He’s South African. That’s the beauty of having a good mix of Kiwis or wherever players come from – they see the game differently.

“There’s a little bit of an inside track on what is going to come on Saturday with the Sharks as well.

“They’re going to ask big questions of us at set-piece time – a big, power-based team running hard around the corner. “Hitting things, confrontational, physical. He carries that with him.

“It’s great learning for the youngsters coming through to have someone of Jason’s ability and mindset. His outlook on the game in the mix is great for any youngster.”

Despite an early set-back with a finger injury, Jenkins has been one of the best players for the province over their opening three URC victories.

The 25-year-old was particularly prominent in Leinster’s opening win at home against Zebre, followed by the win at Ulster last Friday.

“He’s been great,” added Mcbryde.

“It was very hard for him to hit the ground running right from the word go without having had those minutes under your belt.

“But now that he has a clean bill of health, he is playing really well.

“Away from the set-piece, he has put shots in around the field. Put himself about, struck up a great relationship with Michael Ala’alatoa from a scrummaging point of view.

“He’s working well with Ross [Molony] there as a second-row partnership as well.

“I think he’ll keep on growing, he’ll keep getting better. I think it was the first 80 minute game he played the other week for two years.

“Fair dues to him. He has made an impact right from the word go.”

Mcbryde smiles as he says that the front rowers aren’t shy in saying if they aren’t getting the right support from their second rows in terms of weight coming through in the scrum.

“Everybody’s happy when Jason is behind them,” grinned the Welshman.

“It’s a big ask to come and learn a different way of doing things, but he has taken it in his stride and I expect him to grow even further.”