23-year-old Evans has excelled under the guidance of the three-time grand-slam winner. His powerful performances have helped Warren Gatland’s side get off to an unbeaten start, with a draw in Ireland and victory over Scotland.
France come to Cardiff next Friday looking to protect a 100 percent record after battling victories over Italy and Ireland. And Jenkins, who has started in 88 of his 121 international caps, reckons Evans has a bright future in the red of Wales.
He said: “He’s been outstanding in the first two games. Rob’s quite a confident boy and he’s shown that with the way he’s played. He’s still young at international level but he’s learning every week, he takes stuff on board, he’s a strong scrummager and he carries very well around the field. He’s only going to get better and that’s good for Wales that they have someone coming through who will hopefully be there for the next 10 years.
“My role is definitely different, you take a step back and look it things almost like a coach because you are not really thinking about your own job. Towards the end of the week, you start thinking about your own role and do your homework. I’ve enjoyed it, I help a lot of young players at the Blues who are coming through, and it’s just a bit of a change doing it here.”
France’s new head coach Guy Noves has enjoyed a perfect start in the role. Only England, who also have a new boss in Eddie Jones, sit above Les Bleus in the Six Nations rankings with two wins of their own. And Jenkins reckons his side will have to turn it up a notch if they are to leapfrog France and turn up the heat on England.
He said: “It’s quite open. France and England have had the two victories while we haven’t lost so are in a good place. This next round will be crucial and it might even come down to points difference again. We are just focusing on France.
“Obviously we were disappointed not to get the result in Ireland and pleased we scraped home against Scotland but we know we have got to lift it up another level to be competing on that final day.”
