Jenkins praises the class of 2011

GETHIN JENKINS yesterday hailed Wales’ World Cup marvels as the best team he has played in during his 80-cap Test career.

The Cardiff Blues prop has performed a pivotal role in driving Wales towards a World Cup semi-final appointment with France at Eden Park on Saturday.

Despite being sidelined by injury for most of 2011, he returned as a substitute during the pivotal Pool D victory over Samoa and then started the next three games, including the pulsating quarter-final win against Ireland last Saturday.

Thirty-year-old Jenkins believes there can be little doubt where the current crop of players stand in terms of a Wales career that began for him nine years ago.

“Gats (Wales coach Warren Gatland) got me before last weekend’s game and asked if I thought it was the best team I had played in,” Jenkins said.

“I said ‘we will see on Saturday’. Afterwards, he asked me again, and I said ‘yeah, it’s got to be now’.

“Four years ago was very disappointing, losing to Fiji (at the last World Cup). We knew ourselves we weren’t up to the task on that day.

“Things have changed in the last four years. We’ve had our highs and lows under Warren – the Grand Slam and then a few dips – but it’s all about the players you are bringing through and the way players and their mindsets are developing.

“Everything is in place now. You’ve just got to bring your talent, your bit of skill to the team and bind it all together.

“We knew Ireland was going to be a touch-and-go game, but we also knew if we played well that we could sneak a win.

“And France have shown over the years how good a team they are – they have beaten New Zealand and other top teams. We never have an easy game against France.”

Key to Wales’ World Cup success has been the consistency of their exciting young contingent, a group that has 23-year-old captain Sam Warburton at its forefront.

Warburton has set standards on and off the pitch, producing repeated world-class performances and heading up a squad whose social activities have proved positively monastic when compared to some in New Zealand.

“There are a lot of them about,” said Jenkins, assessing the young generation’s impact.

“It is all credit to them for the way they have handled themselves.”

“We’ve had times now and again when we have been able to switch off, but we haven’t really had an occasion when we’ve had the chance to go out and have a big drink or something.

“Things have been quiet, but we’re tight as a squad and we will stick together and keep to the values we’ve got as a squad.”