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What Siya Kolisi said to Ellis Jenkins after cracker in Cardiff

By PA
Ellis Jenkins is tackled by Damian Willemse /PA

World Cup-winning South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has led the tributes to Ellis Jenkins after the Wales flanker’s memorable Test match return.

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Jenkins, despite being out of the international game for three years, continued from where he left off in Wales’ 23-18 defeat against the Springboks.

He was man-of-the-match when Wales beat South Africa in 2018, but suffered a major knee injury during the closing minutes that sidelined him from all rugby for 26 months.

Video Spacer

Wayne Pivac on why Wales changed tactics just before kick-off

Video Spacer

Wayne Pivac on why Wales changed tactics just before kick-off

Kolisi was in the Springboks side that day, and he showered praise on a player who finished his Wales comeback match as skipper after centre Jonathan Davies went off.

“I remember when he got injured,” Kolisi said. “Those things are tough.

“We are all here playing rugby, trying to make our families proud, our countries proud, and you never want to wish anyone to get injured.

“For him to fight back, return from injury and make it back into internationals just shows what kind of a character he is.

“I just said to him ‘I am so proud of you’. He played well, and it is always hard to play against him.”

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Jenkins’ 12th cap came more than 1,000 days after his 11th, yet he performed with a maturity and quality that suggests he could eventually succeed Alun Wyn Jones as long-term Wales captain.

Siya Kolisi Paul Williams
Referee Paul Williams and Siya Kolisi /PA

Jones is among several British and Irish Lions currently injured and unavailable to Wales head coach Wayne Pivac, with Jenkins stepping into a back-row minus Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau, and he could not have made a stronger case as the 2023 World Cup countdown continues.

Pivac said: “I am very, very pleased for Ellis. It was a big moment for him.

“He didn’t do a lot of training the week before (due to a rib injury) – certainly no contact – and to come out against a physical side, I was really pleased with him.

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“He showed great timing and great skill over the ball, and he is going to get better and better for that performance.

“He is an important player, and with Alun injured, you need others to lead in the forwards.

“Justin Tipuric and Ken Owens would normally be there, but with those away, Ellis not only played well, but had a leadership role.”

Wales’ first home defeat against South Africa since 2013 will be tough for Pivac to digest after his team led through six Dan Biggar penalties with only seven minutes left.

But Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx powered over for a try, and Elton Jantjies booted a penalty with the game’s final kick to inflict a second successive Autumn Nations Series loss on Wales ahead of hosting Fiji next Sunday.

“We could have won that match – it came down to a couple of moments,” Pivac added.

“We gave away a silly penalty before half-time, and then another to set up their try.

“Outside of that, we’ve a bit of work to do at the scrum, but we matched them across the park and led for periods. We could have won it at the end.

“It was a big step in the right direction, playing the world champions at their own game. I thought it was a big pat on the back for their effort.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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