Warren Gatland’s Lions are 1-0 up in the three match Test series following a nail-biting 23-21 win in Brisbane. But Jenkins reckons the Wallabies will hit back in the same way South Africa did in the second Test in Durban 16 years ago.
On that occasion, Jenkins was playing at full back for the Lions, preparing to kick them to a series victory over the Spingboks.
These days, Jenkins is responsible for coaching the Lions’ kickers and with Leigh Halfpenny, Owen Farrell, Jonny Sexton and Stuart Hogg currently kicking at an 84 per cent success rate, things are clearly going well. Halfpenny kicked five out of six in the first Test in Brisbane, while the Wallabies’ five misses came back to haunt them.
“They are going to come at us with everything,” was Jenkins’ assessment of the threat posed by the men in green and gold.
“It’s obviously the last chance for them to keep the series going. It’s going to be a huge game with huge intensity and massive pressure.”
The goal kicking of Halfpenny proved vital for the Lions in their first Test win as both James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale struggled for the hosts.
“It’s generally goal-kicking that wins or loses Test matches. We’ve seen already with the way things went last Saturday, the importance of your kickers,” added Jenkins.
“Kicking is a huge part of the game, we all acknowledge that, and Leigh has been a tremendous kicker now for the past two years. He’s put a huge amount of work in and he’s pretty special in what he does.
“Personally, he’s a joy to work with and I’m really enjoying working with Owen (Farrell), Jonny (Sexton) and Hoggy’s (Stuart Hogg) doing good work now as well. Billy’s (Twelvetrees) arrived and become involved.
“The list gets bigger, which is good, and it’s certainly a great experience for myself to be working with new people all the time.
“I stand and watch what they are doing, and if I think something needs to be said, then I go in and say it, whether it’s punting, restarts or any kind of kicking. But I’m not one for speaking for the sake of it and people who know me will know that.”
With Halfpenny in such fine form with the boot and the likes of Sexton and Farrell in reserve, the Lions boast a wealth of kicking options.
And Jenkins says Halfpenny’s work rate reminds him of former Lion Jonny Wilkinson, in terms of pure dedication.
“These boys have worked incredibly hard since we got together six and a half weeks ago,” said the former Wales fly half.
“The standards of these boys is massive. Someone like Jonny Wilkinson, for example, his work ethic is ridiculous. That is why he’s achieved what he has. Leigh is not too far away from that level. He works incredibly hard at his game.
“He probably doesn’t stay out there as long as Jonny, but he works incredibly hard. He’ll focus on perfecting every spot and won’t move on until he is happy.
“Leigh works equally hard on other aspects of his game, his aerial stuff, his carrying and lines of running, and even drop-goals, he’s always trying out long-range drop-goals.”
Australia meanwhile, will be without Pat McCabe for the remaining two Tests after he was ruled out for the rest of the year with a neck injury.
McCabe, 25, was taken off during the 23-21 defeat to the Lions last Saturday. Wing Digby Ioane will also miss the final two Tests with a shoulder problem while Jamie Roberts and Alex Corbisiero are both struggling for the Lions.
