Jenkins reflects on a “job well done”
display_more_news_link
It was the first Welsh win for nine months and the performance thoroughly justified Jenkins’s decision to make 14 changes from the 29-29 draw with Australia on the opening weekend of the Invesco Perpetual Series.
“We have to be positive about the two games to date. They have been two good performances and there is a lot of honesty in this squad,” said Jenkins. It was another enjoyable Test match and we had to make more tackles than in most games. I thought we defended well, our set piece was efficient and we scored tries when we needed to.”
“A draw last week was a fair reflection, but this was a good result for us. I have got a few selection headaches before the next two games.”
Acting skipper Duncan Jones was another person in the Welsh dressing room delighted to have got his first win as captain. “The changing room is a pretty happy one at the moment, although our feet are firmly on the ground,” said Jones.
“A lot was made of the 14 changes to the team that played against Australia, but there is no ‘us and them’ syndrome in the squad. This performance was a credit to everyone in the squad. We know we have to build on this result and everyone wants to play in the next two games.”
Pacific Islanders coach Pat Lam was full of praise for the Welsh approach after tasting defeat for the first time in his illustrious career to a Wales team. “We were pleased with the effort, but disappointed at the loss. Wales came to play, and so did we – it was just that we tried to play a bit too much in the first half,” admitted Lam.
“We got off to a bad start and we looked like a team that had only just come together. We struggled at the set piece and Wales put us under a lot of pressure. Fair play to Wales, they looked very good when they ran the ball.”
