Jenkins Favourite For Welsh Post

Llanelli’s head coach Gareth Jenkins looks to be the people’s choice to take over the role of Welsh national coach now that interim coach Scott Johnson has decided to head back to Australia

Llanelli’s head coach Gareth Jenkins looks to be the people’s choice to take over the role of Welsh national coach now that interim coach Scott Johnson has decided to head back to Australia.

A poll on icWales’s RugbyNation website has the Llanelli Scarlets’ boss in a clear lead and the club’s Chief Executive Stuart Gallacher endorses that public opinion.

The result of this vote underlines once again the huge esteem with which Gareth is held in Wales,” said the Scarlets chief executive. He is clearly the people’s choice, which is understandable given his excellent coaching record.

“Gareth has a very solid record from his time in charge of Llanelli and the Scarlets. But what some people forget is his fine record at international level, too. He was forwards coach when Wales won the Five Nations championship back in 1994, the last time we won it before the Grand Slam year”.

Meanwhile Jenkins’ immediate attention will be on the Celtic League clash with Munster this evening at Stradey Park.

Munster arrived in a very wet Cradiff airport yesterday evening but were hertened when they awoke at their Stradey Park Hotel to a bright clear morning.

On the team news front, Mick O’Driscoll will take his place alongside David Wallace and Anthony Foley in the back-row for this evening’s game

Meanwhile on the Llanelli line-up, Matthew J Watkins has been replaced by Dafydd James at 13, with Darren Daniel called to replace Dafydd James on the right wing.

Gavin Evans replaces Darren Daniel at 22 and Craig Evans replaces Ceiron Thomas at 21.

Munster: Shaun Payne; John Kelly, Tomas O’Leary, Trevor Hastead, Ian Dowling; Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell; Mick O’DRiscoll, David wallace, Anthony Foley capt. Replacements: Denis Fogarty, Federico Pucciariello, Trevor Hogan, John O’Sullivan, Jeremy Manning, Mike Mullins, Christian Cullen.

Llanelli Scarlets: Barry Davies; Darren Daniel, Dafydd James, Regan King, Tal
Selley; Mike Hercus, Clive Stuart-Smith; Phil John, Matthew Rees, John Davies; ‘Inoke Afeaki, Adam Jones; Simon Easterby capt, Gavin Thomas,
Dafydd Jones. Replacements: Iestyn Thomas, Craig Hawkins, Vernon Cooper, Gavin Quinnell, Liam Davies, Craig Evans, Gavin Evans,