Wales forward Gethin Jenkins admits that while he thrives on playing for his country, he has found the last month particularly tough.
Wales prop thrives despite demanding schedule
Wales star forward Gethin Jenkins has admitted that while he thrives on playing for his country, he has found the last month particularly tough.
The Cardiff Blues prop, who has 70 Wales caps and five British and Irish Lions Test appearances to his name, has had an exhausting playing schedule since recovering from a cracked cheekbone and summer shoulder surgery.
Jenkins has played every minute of matches against Sale Sharks, the Ospreys, New Zealand and Samoa and made the switch from loosehead to tighthead prop when required, but the 29-year-old admits he has found the timetable demanding.
Tough
"It's been tough for me," said Jenkins, who shone during the Lions' Test series against world champions South Africa this summer.
"In the first-half of all the games I've been all right and I've been getting around the field fine.
"You can do as much rehab and gym work as you want, but there is nothing quite like playing a game. The last two games have been pretty fast and intense.
"I have just been finding my legs are going after 60 or 70 minutes because I am not used to the intensity. Samoa last Friday was only my fourth game back."
However, Jenkins insists that playing for Wales more than compensates for the tough schedule and revealed that being appointed skipper for the Blues helped to ease his injury worries.
"It is just nice to be out there playing for your country. You give your all, and if you get dragged off, then fair enough," he said.
"I've played the full 80 minutes in both Tests, so I am glad of the match time to be honest.
"And I was made captain in my first game back for the (Cardiff) Blues, which took a lot of the attention away. I wasn't thinking about my shoulder so much, it was more thinking about leading the team and responsibility that comes with it.
Demanding
Jenkins can expect another demanding match when Wales meet Argentina in Cardiff, particularly from the Pumas' revered front-row unit of Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma and Martin Scelzo.
"They are a very experienced front-row, I think everyone realises that," said Jenkins.
"We respect that, and we know we have got to put in a good performance on Saturday."
Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde has complete confidence that Jenkins will deal with whatever the Pumas serve up.
"He is phenomenal. There are not many forwards across the board who read the game as well as Gethin does," said McBryde.
"And to be able to do that from a front-row aspect, where you are really at the coalface, and still be able to read and recognise what is needed in attack and defence is incredible."
