Jenkins hails coaches' impact

Wales prop Gethin Jenkins has revealed how the new coaching team of Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards has brought a steely self belief to the squad.

Wales prop Gethin Jenkins has revealed how the new coaching team of Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards has brought a steely self belief to the squad.

That confidence revealed itself in Saturday's 26-19 victory over England – Wales' first win at Twickenham for 20 years.

And Jenkins, who was an influential second-half replacement, helping set up the winning try, claims the Gatland-Edwards partnership has already made a huge impact.

“They (Gatland, Edwards and Rob Howley) are focused individuals and they have just given us direction,” said Jenkins.

“A lot of stuff we have done has been short, sharp drills. There has been a lot intensity brought to training and that's what the boys have really been thriving on. There has been a great spirit in the squad for the last two weeks.

“Those coaches have sort of brought things like that in. It's just a buzz for the whole squad who are going into a game knowing what they are doing and actually feeling confident.”

But Jenkins is refusing to believe Wales are the finished article as they prepare to welcome a wounded Scotland – who suffered a 27-6 home defeat to France on Sunday – to the Millennium Stadium.

“Even though we got the win, there is plenty for us to work on and improve,” Jenkins added.

“We know expectation is on us, but we also know that we have to keep out feet on the ground and keep working on things that we have worked on over the last two weeks and get better at them because every game is a massive game for us.

“I can't explain how we managed to turn it around but I think it was just the fact that we believed in ourselves a lot more, and decided to throw caution to the wind a bit more and take them on in one-on-one in certain situations.

“When Mike (Phillips) went over for that second try, we felt then that we had that game in the bag and all we had to do was shut the game down for the last 10 minutes.

“It was a great feeling. With five minutes to go we are on their line and we have got control of the ball. It doesn't happen very often at a place like Twickenham.”