By Steffan Thomas
Wales goal kicking legend Neil Jenkins is chomping at the bit at the prospect of working with Bristol Bears playmaker Callum Sheedy.
The 24-year-old has been in red hot form in the Gallagher Premiership this season kicking 22 points in Bristol’s European Challenge Cup final victory over Toulon last Friday.
Sheedy is unlikely to be involved in this Saturday’s test in France due to Bristol being on standby to face Exeter in the Premiership final should covid-19 force Wasps to withdraw.
But Wales kicking coach Jenkins is confident he has a big future ahead of him in the red number 10 shirt.
“He has played exceptionally well for Bristol to be fair to him and kicked very well at the weekend against Toulon,” said Jenkins.
“Bristol play a bit of a different game to the one we are going to play and they have some heavy runners around him.
“But I like to think when he comes in with us, he has firepower around him but in a different way.
“I am looking forward to meeting up with him when he comes in and who knows what’s going to happen with them this week in terms of the final.
“But he’s a class player and he deserved his selection.”
Doubts remain over the availability of full back Liam Williams who has yet to appear for the Scarlets this season, while Josh Navidi is a huge doubt after suffering a concussion.
Jenkins admits the Wales management are considering the prospect of the British & Irish Lions star getting a few games under his belt at regional level.
But he insists Williams doesn’t need much rugby behind him to be able to make an impact at test level.
He said: “He probably does need game time, there’s no doubting that.
“He played against England, that was his first match since the World Cup last November, and he was pretty good that day.
“I see a few members of our squad who can probably play minimum rugby and then just turn up and play a Test match. Liam is certainly in that category.
“He’s a world class player as far as I’m concerned.
“Whether he will be involved on Saturday is another thing.”
If selected against France this weekend Alun Wyn Jones will equal New Zealand great Richie McCaw’s record as the most capped test player of all time with 148 appearances for Wales.
And Jenkins insists the 25-year-old Ospreys man deserves all the accolades that come his way.
He said: “To achieve what he has in his career, in the position he plays in in amazing.
“He’s in the front five and those are the hardest positions on the rugby field, yet he still seems like a young kid if you ask me.
🏉🐻22 points for Wales squad fly-half Callum Sheedy as Bristol Bears take the European Challenge Cup 32-19 against Toulon at Aix en Provence👏🏼
— Nick Webb (@nickwebb2017) October 16, 2020
“He’s first to everything and very rarely does he get beaten in anything.
“That’s the way he is. I have been lucky enough to have been involved with him since the U20s back in 2006.
“He’s world class, one of the best to have ever played the game, and he’s going to beat someone who is probably the greatest player. Who knows?
“It’s an incredible achievement and deserved all the accolades. He leads from the front and he’s a true professional.
“I like to think there are few years left in him yet, but when the days does come – maybe in three or four more years, when he’s not wearing that jersey – he will be sorely missed.”