Ellis Jenkins: Cardiff Blues and Wales flanker makes long-awaited injury return
- Published
Ellis Jenkins captained Wales during the 2018 tour of Argentina
Wales flanker Ellis Jenkins marked his long-awaited return from a serious knee injury with a try in Cardiff Blues' 38-21 friendly win over Ospreys.
Jenkins had not played since rupturing knee ligaments in the closing seconds of a man-of-the-match display against South Africa in November 2018.
The 27-year-old had three operations and suffered several setbacks during his recovery.
But he managed 40 minutes in Friday's friendly before being replaced.
Jenkins' half-time withdrawal was planned beforehand and his performance will have been a great source of encouragement for Cardiff Blues and Wales.
In a friendly played behind closed doors at Cardiff Arms Park, there were signs of the Jenkins of old when he forced a turnover near his own try line in the 16th minute.
He also carried the ball and showed deft handling in midfield at times, before latching on to Mason Grady's kick to score Cardiff Blues' fourth try of a free-scoring first half.
The hosts led 26-14 at the interval with another Wales international, wing Owen Lane, scoring a try in his first game back after two months out injured.
Aled Summerhill on the opposite wing scored two tries as Cardiff Blues won 38-21 to make it a triumphant return to the Arms Park.
This was their first game back at their home ground after it was used as part of the Principality Stadium field hospital during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic last year.
Interim director of rugby Dai Young was delighted to welcome Jenkins back into the team but warned he would have to be carefully managed.
"It was lovely for him to score a try - you couldn't have written the story any better - but if there was one thing that typified him it was that typical Ellis Jenkins turnover five metres from our own line," said Young.
"More important was him walking off, knowing he had got that 40 minutes under his belt.
Jenkins, pictured scoring his try in Cardiff Blues' friendly win over Ospreys, has won 11 caps for Wales
"He wants to be the player he was tomorrow. That's probably not realistic after the length of time he's been out - but it's not for a want of trying.
"He's going to be a bit rusty and he's going to have to work but I can't ask him to do any more.
"It's up to me as a director of rugby to look after him, to protect him a little bit from himself, but not to hold him back. It's a balancing act."
Young was also pleased to be back at the Arms Park, where he represented Cardiff RFC as a player before coaching Cardiff Blues for eight years in his first spell in charge.
"It means a lot to me, this place - I had 16 years here as a player and as a coach," said the former Wales and British and Irish Lions prop.
"I had a big emotional moment going into the dressing room again. I'm looking forward to this place being full with the supporters here.
"It's a great place to play rugby and I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon being back here."
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