Cardiff Blues prop Jenkins, subject to selection, will become only the fourth Welshman to achieve such a feat behind his former team-mates Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas and Martyn Williams.
But across the front-row from Jenkins against Millennium Stadium visitors Argentina is likely to be a player who has also become an integral part of Wales’ forward resources.
Paul James has less than half Jenkins’ cap tally, although an appearance this weekend would leave him only three short of 50, yet he has often proved himself as a man for a crisis.
A loosehead prop by trade, James proved an extremely capable deputy when Adam Jones limped off during last Saturday’s casualty-stricken loss to Rugby Championship runners-up South Africa.
While Wales coach Warren Gatland has other tighthead options in his squad – the likes of Scott Andrews, Aaron Jarvis and recent training group addition Samson Lee – it would be no surprise if 31-year-old Bath forward James is asked to do the job.
“You do whatever you need to do,” James said. “If that means playing on the tight to help Wales out, then yes.
“I don’t class myself as a tighthead, but if you get the opportunity to put on a Welsh jersey you will stick any number on your back.
“If I am asked to do it, I will do it. If I can help Wales out and do a job there, I will do it. We have got other tightheads in the squad as well. We will see what happens.
“With the law change of having four props in the match-day squad, you are just picked as a loosehead now, so I thought those days of playing on the tighthead were behind me.
“But I was told I was going on there (last Saturday), so it was a case of ‘okay!’ It was fine. I have dabbled a bit there in the past, so it wasn’t too much of a shock.
“It is harder if you have to swap over, but the bonus of playing international rugby is you have got guys like Alun-Wyn (Jones) and Warby (Sam Warburton) pushing behind you as well, which makes a massive difference. It helps and gives you confidence.
“It was the first time on the tighthead under the news laws for me on Saturday, but it went okay.”
James has been one of Bath’s stand-put performers in the Aviva Premiership this season, and his quality shone through as Wales fought back from a poor start to be just two points adrift of South Africa with only 12 minutes left.
Scrum-half Fourie Du Preez’s try then finished Wales off, consigning them to a 21st defeat from 22 starts against the Springboks, New Zealand and Australia during Gatland’s reign.
But James added: “I felt at times we were good and had the opportunity to win it.
“It was a physical game. There were big hits going in, the clean-outs were big, but I thought we reacted well and we matched them.
“We kept at it and got back within touching distance at 17-15. There were a couple of good hits and good carries, the crowd were up and we thought ‘we can do this’.
“We didn’t quite get there in the end. The feeling was one of disappointment afterwards, but we are going in the right direction.”
Wales centre Jonathan Davies, meanwhile, believes “the time was right” to begin a new club career with French giants Clermont Auvergne next season.
Davies, who is currently sidelined for up to four months as he begins the recovery process from a ruptured pectoral muscle suffered against South Africa four days ago, has agreed a two-year deal at Clermont.
“I felt that the time was right now to test myself rugby-wise in a different environment,” Davies said, in a statement released by his current regional team the Scarlets.
“Clermont Auvergne offers me a fresh rugby challenge that I hope will improve me further as a player.
“Deciding to leave the Scarlets has been the toughest decision I’ve ever made. It is certainly not one I’ve taken lightly.”
Article source: http://www.france24.com/en/20130922-french-english-rugby-european-cup
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