Jenkins rallies his troops

Editor

Cardiff Blues flank Ellis Jenkins has urged his team to unleash their frustrations against Glasgow in their PRO12 clash on Saturday.

After a derby loss at Parc y Scarlets on New Year’s Day, the Blues travel to Scotland, hoping to close the five-point gap on the top six sides.

Jenkins believes his men created enough chances to win the game against Scarlets, but need to be more clinical if they are to move forward.

“It was frustrating. We felt that we created enough chances to win the game. We had 10 line-breaks and scored one try, which is criminal at this level,” the Welsh international back-row forward told Cardiff Blues‘ website.

“You’re going to get limited chances to score and if you don’t take them, a side as good as the Scarlets are going to punish you.

“It’s all about the small margins. We’ve spoken a lot this week about being more clinical. Unfortunately it was the same out in Connacht, at home to Leinster. The best teams get to the twenty-two and come away with points.

“That’s where we need to build ourselves. We are creating the chances, which is encouraging, but ultimately if you don’t convert those chances you’re going to struggle.”

Glasgow go into the clash on the back of a four-game winning streak, including a double scalp over Racing 92 in the Champions Cup.

Jenkins insists his side must be on their best at Scotstoun Stadium, as he expects a strong Warriors side seeking revenge for the 23-19 defeat earlier in the season at Cardiff Arms Park.

He continued: “Our challenge is to go up to Glasgow and make it as tough for them as we can. They play on the same pitch as us so that’s something we’ll be used to and it will be about playing our game and not playing into their hands.

“We have to focus on ourselves, make sure we get ourselves right, mentally and physically.

“It was well documented last season that we didn’t travel well, but we’ve improved on that a little bit this year, but they’ll want revenge from the fixture earlier in the season, so hopefully it will be a good game on Saturday.

“It’s another opportunity to go up against a team that’s near us in the table and climb our way back up.

“Glasgow play an expansive game of rugby, and we took that away from them very well at home. Our challenge will be to do that again a not play the game they want to play.

“The same as any other game really, the team who wins the breakdown and physicality battle nine times out of ten win the game.”