Baby Boks hold no fear for Wales
DAFYDD Jenkins is confident Wales U20s can upset the formbook by beating South Africa U20s to complete a remarkable transformation from also rans to champions.
Wales will take on the Baby Boks in the final of the U20s Six Nations Summer Series on Tuesday following group victories over Scotland, Georgia, and Italy.
They may be in a rich vein of form, but they are firm underdogs given South Africa have swept aside England, Ireland, and France with ease, but Jenkins is confident Wales can come out on top.
“South Africa will be a different level than what we’ve faced up to now but if you look at our pack and the players in it, there’s no reason why we can’t match that physicality, because there are some freaks in this pack,” said the 19-yearold second row.
“We will look to target their set-piece, and we will focus on ourselves because we’re a hard team to beat now. We need to make it really scrappy, make it an individual battle with your opposite number, and we will just go to the end.
“We don’t want to give them too much respect and we want to play like the seniors did when they played out there. We will try to follow that and get a win.”
Wales finished fifth in the U20s Six Nations with one win out of five but fast forward four months and Byron Hayward’s side are a different proposition altogether.
The main reason for their improved performance is the inclusion of Exeter second rows Jenkins
and Christ Tshiunza who were both unavailable during the Six Nations.
The pair have given Wales a physical edge upfront which has allowed Hayward’s side to compete with the competition’s bigger packs. Jenkins is highly thought of at Exeter and has already made 10 appearances for the Chiefs in the Premiership.
And he says England lock Jonny Hill, right, who is leaving Exeter to join Sale this summer, has had a big impact on his career.
“He has been class for me,” he said. “He wasn’t playing much when I was there because he had a foot injury but off the field he was amazing in terms of how to train, how to do certain things around the pitch. He was very helpful.
“I’m really looking forward to next season now and getting a few more games and some consistent game-time in the Premiership. It’s a good level to play at.
I’m relishing every opportunity out there.”
Given how impressive his performances have been the abrasive lock will inevitably attract interest from Wales’ four professional sides.
But Jenkins is happy in Devon for now and believes the Exeter environment can help him achieve his goal of representing Wales at senior level. “I’m just going to have a big pre-season at the Chiefs now, put a few games together and maybe put my hand up to get in as soon as possible,” he said. “Whether that’s before this World Cup or after is purely down to me and what I can do on the pitch and whether I can play well enough.
“I really enjoy it at Exeter, so I can’t see myself leaving at any time soon, because Rob (Baxter, director of rugby) creates such a culture down there. But hopefully, one day a region will have me back when the time comes.”