Jenkins wants home-based Wales coach to create plan

Gethin Jenkins is his country's second most capped player having featured in 129 internationals for Wales and five Tests for the British and Irish Lions

Gethin Jenkins says the Wales head coach should be based permanently in the country and needs to formulate a long-term plan with the four professional sides.

Warren Gatland left his head coach role after overseeing a record 14 consecutive Test defeats with Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt taking interim charge until the end of the Six Nations.

Sherratt's temporary tenure started with a much-improved performance in the 27-18 defeat against Ireland, despite only having four training sessions with his new squad.

He will be in charge for the trip to face Scotland on 8 February before the visit of England to Cardiff seven days later.

Sherratt says he does not want the job permanently with Michael Cheika, Simon Easterby and Franco Smith linked with the role.

Gatland divided his time between his native New Zealand and Wales and insisted he spent time at the four professional sides.

Former Welsh prop and current Cardiff defence coach Jenkins believes the long-term successor needs to be based in the country.

"The Welsh coach has to be in the country putting the hours in and going around the regions and actually putting together a plan," said Jenkins.

Gatland's second spell in charge resulted in 20 defeats in 26 games for a side that lost many seasoned internationals after the World Cup.

"The notion the group of players was not good enough is probably not something I agree with," said Jenkins.

"They're young but there's a lot of experience in there as well and it's how can you get the best out of them.

"I think far too often it was said publicly players had made bad decisions. As a coach sometimes you've got to take responsibility as well and own that.

"You can see even the difference in just two weeks of training what a bit of coaching has done to these players."

'Pundits paid to give opinions'

Jenkins was defence coach under previous Wales boss Wayne Pivac, who was replaced in December 2022 by Gatland.

Shortly after Gatland's reappointment, Jenkins and attack coach Stephen Jones were replaced by Mike Forshaw and Alex King.

The decision was made three days after Christmas with Jenkins and Jones told in person by WRU chief executive Steve Phillips and performance director Nigel Walker.

Wales rallied at the 2023 World Cup where they were knocked out by Argentina in the quarter-finals and the national side have since not won a Test match.

Gatland previously enjoyed a successful 12-year spell which included three Grand Slams, two World Cup semi-finals and a record run of 14 victories that led to Wales briefly topping the world rankings.

Following his resignation in his second stint, Gatland says he was "weighed down" by public criticism, including from his former players, who he stated would not be in the media if they had not been successful and played for Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

"To say stuff like that, I don't think that sits well. You're either on one side of it or the other," said Jenkins.

"You are either coaching or you are out there giving opinions. The stuff with ex-players criticising, that's their job.

"The ex-players who chose to go into those roles do it to give an opinion.

"I see a lot of my former teammates who have gone into that world and that's what they're paid to do.

"Sometimes their opinions are right, sometimes they're not but that's the way of the world."

Gatland was himself a pundit during Jenkins' final campaign with Wales in the autumn of 2022.

"If you go back probably to when I was working in that job (Wales), the last campaign I was involved in, there were people on television giving their opinions then and doing exactly the same thing," said Jenkins.

"You can make what you want of who that was."

Gatland employed influential coaches in his backroom staff during his first spell in charge.

"For me personally, when I was playing, the biggest impact on me was Shaun Edwards [defence coach] and I wanted to play for him," said Jenkins.

"That was the main part of that team I wanted to play for.

"I got on very well with Rob Howley [attack coach]. He made me captain, so he showed a lot of faith in me, in terms of that leadership role."

Energy and enjoyment

Following his Wales coaching departure, Jenkins has continued his coaching career with Cardiff under Sherratt.

Jenkins says he was not surprised by the immediate influence of his boss on the international stage against Ireland.

"It was class," said Jenkins.

"It was probably the first time in two or three years I've watched Wales since I finished there.

"They actually played some good stuff, both sides of the ball. It was exciting seeing what they could do with the players they had out there."

Sherratt brought in familiar coaches and players who he had worked with before to help with the transition.

"I know he was looking for a few easy wins as soon as he went in there," said Jenkins.

"So it wasn't a surprise. We all know there was an upward trajectory coming, especially a home game also against Ireland.

"We saw that and the main thing now is building on that leading into the next two games against Scotland and England.

"He (Sherratt) has got great energy and you just feed off that.

"I've worked with him and been coached by him, so there's a bit of a relationship there. I've enjoyed things and learnt a lot from him."

'Busy saving Wales rugby!'

Sherratt will not be in charge for Cardiff's United Rugby Championship (URC) match against table-topping Leinster in Dublin on Saturday with Jenkins and the rest of the Cardiff coaching staff holding the fort.

"It's been a bit busier than usual," said Jenkins.

"We're all doing bits to make it work as smoothly as possible and we're in a good place."

Sherratt has shown some interest in Cardiff's preparations but is not expected to be at the Aviva Stadium.

"He is not involved much, although he is a bit like David Brent, he can't stay away and was in the office on Wednesday," said Jenkins.

"He won't be with us this week. He's got enough on his plate at the moment. He is busy saving Welsh rugby!"