New Wales captain Gethin Jenkins insists he will be aiming to take his World Cup ‘hurt’ out on champions South Africa when they meet at the Millennium Stadium later this month.
Cardiff prop Jenkins has been named as the new man to lead Wales against the Springboks in the Invesco Perpetual Prince William Cup match on November 24.
He became Wales’ most capped prop at the World Cup when he took his tally to 52 caps – and he will be the 125th man to captain his country, taking over the armband from his Blues team-mate Gareth Thomas.
"Leading the team out at the Millennium Stadium, probably in front of a packed house of home fans and against the current Rugby World Cup champions will be a pretty special way to win my first cap as captain," Jenkins told the Welsh Rugby Union’s website, www.wru.co.uk.
"It’s their first game since winning the cup, so the scalps aren’t going to come much bigger than that for at least the next four years.
"As a team we are all relishing the opportunity to get back into it so quickly after the disappointment of our World Cup exit.
"When we pull on the red jersey again the memories will be refreshed, we will all still be hurting – and I can’t think of any better way to ease the pain than to take it out on the Springboks."
Jenkins, 27 a week before his first match as captain, will become only the 11th front-row forward to lead Wales since World War II – and only the fourth prop in that time in succession to Duncan Jones, his regional coach Dai Young and John Lloyd.
He recalled: "When Nigel (Davies, caretaker boss) asked me to be his captain against South Africa I have to admit it came as a bit of a surprise – and I did take some time to think about it – but there was only ever going to be one answer.
"It’s obviously a huge honour, probably the biggest in Welsh sport. But I wanted to be sure I could do justice to the responsibility.
"My goal as a player is to do everything to the highest of standards and this is no different.
"I had a chat with may dad, a few of the players who are close to me and with Dai Young, who has very much been there and done that – and in the end there was no way I was going to miss the opportunity.
"I just try to be the best team player I can be. It’s a huge honour, and just to think of the players that have gone before me is pretty awe-inspiring in itself."
