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Gareth Jenkins and Robin McBryde assess the Welsh squad in training in Nantes in July
(Main) Head Coach Gareth Jenkins and Robin McBryde assess the Welsh squad in training in Nantes in July (Thumb) Jenkins has urged Welsh fans to keep the faith
Huw Evans
Jenkins to go for strength against Argentina
7 August 2007, 1:38 pm
By WRU
Gareth Jenkins has urged Wales fans to have faith in his side after their record defeat to England on Saturday.
Jenkins stressed the need to look at the game as part of a process, rather than as a stand alone performance. And he hinted that the side that faces Argentina in Cardiff on August 18th will be far closer to his first choice XV in France.

Jenkins will announce his 30-man Rugby World Cup squad on Friday August 10th, eight days ahead of the match against Argentina who are currently 6th in the IRB world rankings.

He said, "Our preparations have been all about September 4th, not August 4th. Twickenham was part of a long process, and was not the place to show our full hand.

"The next two games are key for us, and I will select a stronger side for both the Argentina and France matches. I urge the Welsh public to believe and have faith in us as we are capable of being a really competitive team."

Wales conceded nine tries at Twickenham, and Jenkins admitted there are serious lessons for his players to learn. But, despite the result, the former British Lions coach reckoned it was not all doom and gloom for his side.

"The boys showed character and resolve, kept their heads up, and wore the jersey with pride. We defended relentlessly for 70 minutes, before running out of steam, and conceding three tries in the last 10."

Backs Coach Nigel Davies added: "With all their possession England only broke through our back line three times. We only had about a quarter of the ball, and we managed to break their line twice, so that's a positive for us."

And Team Manager Alan Phillips urged fans to cast their minds back to 2003, when despite a 43-9 loss to England in Cardiff, Wales went on to seriously challenge the old enemy in a 28-17 defeat in Australia.

"We got well beaten in our warm up game against England four years ago," he said. "But that didn't stop us going on to have a great World Cup."

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