Star Metro - Jenkins eager to end Wales' Six Nations drought at Twickenham

Travelling to London held few terrors for Wales during their 1970s golden era.

But since the tournament was expanded to become the Six Nations 24 years ago, Wales have enjoyed just two Championship victories at Twickenham, in 2008 and 2012.

It is a record 21-year-old lock Jenkins, the youngest Wales captain since Gareth Edwards in 1968, is desperate to improve.

Yet Jenkins, who plays for English club Exeter, is well aware Wales will have to up their game following an agonising 27-26 loss to Scotland in Cardiff last weekend -- a match where they left themselves just too much to do after falling 27-0 behind.

"I wouldn't say it is like any other game, because England and Wales is special," Jenkins said Friday.

"There's massive history behind the game. It's a must-win game for us because of the place we are in the tournament.

"It'll be the best place to win. For a Welshman, there is no better place. If you win over there, you gain a lot of respect from them. It's huge for us."

Of Wales' agonising loss against Scotland in their tournament opener, Jenkins added: "There were a lot of emotions at half-time last week. We felt like we were letting a lot of people down.

"We did well to nearly get ourselves out of the hole but we didn't. Hopefully, we won't put ourselves in that position again."

Wales will look to fly-half Ioan Lloyd to orchestrate play in his first Test start.

With Sam Costelow injured against Scotland and Dan Biggar retired from international duty, 22-year-old Lloyd now has the chance to make Wales' number 10 jersey his own.

"We can see what a quality footballer and running threat he is," said Wales coach Warren Gatland of Lloyd.

"He is an instinctive player, so we need to allow him that opportunity to express himself, but it is also him being smart and saying that it's not forcing it and not going after things when there isn't that chance."

S.Morin--SMC