Baxter backing Jenkins to bounce back at Chiefs
ROB Baxter has backed Dafydd Jenkins to bounce back from the disappointment of leading Wales to a first Six Nations wooden spoon in 21 years.
Wales may have lost their five matches, but the 21-year old second row had a strong tournament, hitting more attacking rucks than any other player and second behind Michele Lamaro in the tackles made table.
“He is a young man who is proud to play for and captain Wales,” said Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby who gave Jenkins last week off having played every minute of the five games. “It has hurt him. I said to him that it was a bit like us at the start of the season with Wales, coming into a competition knowing it would be tough. It was about how individuals came together and the improvements you could make across it.
“I thought he needed a break but he will be fine. He will want to get back training and playing and we have some big games coming up. He will not have the exposure he had with Wales and he can concentrate on what he is good at.
“I was not surprised by his Six Nations stats because that is what he puts in for us. He is a very good player, not long turned 21, who is scratching at the surface of what he can potentially achieve.” Jenkins has captained Exeter this season and Baxter, left, uses him as a model for others to learn from. “Daf is a guy who will never stop fighting and that allows you to become a figurehead for a team. Players notice it on the field and because people tell them. When I have a player here who is dropping off in training and they say they are doing as well as anyone else, you show them Daf’s figures in the same session and it normally stops people short.
“He gets on with it and that is why I know he will be fine. We will support him however we need to. We made him captain as early as we did because we recognised his qualities. I hope we have not pushed pressure on to him too early, but he is definitely someone who can deal with it.”
Jenkins is part of a young squad at Exeter following last year’s departure of a number of internationals who helped the club win the league and Champions Cup double at the start of the decade.
“I wanted a squad of young players who will stay together for a long time and gain experience through good and bad times,” said Baxter, who saw Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ross Vintcent and Ethan Roots win their first caps during the Six Nations.
“We will add players here and there – Ethan came from the Ospreys and we targeted him because we felt he could grow. If we find more like that we will bring them in, but the core is here and the most important aspect of our recruitment is retention.”