Why Jenkins had to pay with his job

Hours after Wales slumped to a shock 38-34 defeat against Fiji on Saturday — a result which saw them fail to qualify for the quarter-finals — WRU directors met in Nantes and agreed that decisive action was required.

They felt Jenkins' position was untenable and he was dismissed before the squad even left their tournament headquarters in southern Brittany.

Explaining the rapid response to the debacle, WRU chief executive Roger Lewis said: "No-one can deny the commitment, passion and dedication that Gareth Jenkins has given to the cause. But at this level, it's about winning. Our World Cup journey came to an end yesterday, and it's now about 2011."

Chairman David Pickering added: "The defining moment in Jenkins' tenure was not achieving a quarter-final place. We are all judged on results and this was below expectation."

Announcing the search for a new coach would begin at once, Lewis stressed that the WRU will scour the world for the right man, however long it takes.

High-profile candidates, such as respected former South Africa coach Nick Mallett and Warren Gatland — who worked wonders with Ireland and Wasps before returning home to New Zealand — are bound to be approached. Wales may even give Sir Clive Woodward a call.

Lewis and Pickering travelled to the team hotel early yesterday and summoned Jenkins to a meeting. Later, a stern-faced Lewis beckoned the remainder of the coaching staff — Nigel Davies, Robin McBryde, Neil Jenkins and Rowland Phillips — inside. When they emerged at 10.30am, there were hugs and handshakes to signify the deed had been done. They then called the players together to announce Jenkins was leaving his post, while his assistants would be the subject of a detailed review.

Jenkins looked more at ease than he has for some time, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. But he knew this blighted campaign and an overall record of six wins from 20 matches in his 16-month reign may have done irreparable damage to his reputation.

Asked if Jenkins had had too little time to make his mark, Lewis said: "I always thought Gareth was caught between a rock and a hard place. I feel 16 months is a tough call but Gareth has always said "Judge me on the World Cup"."

Pickering echoed those sentiments, adding: "The key is that we give the coaching staff the opportunity to do it their way. Gareth said to us, "I've had the opportunity, I've done it my way"."

His way did not work. Jenkins vowed to fight on after Saturday's defeat, which is why the board were forced to sack him.

In a statement he said: "I leave the post with sadness but no regrets. I have worked with a tremendous team of coaches, administrators and players and I leave in the knowledge that we've given it our all."

There is no doubting the effort, but there was so little to show for it. Jenkins faced a daunting challenge to mould a competitive World Cup team in 16 months, but he had the spine of the 2005 Grand Slam side and failed to make the most of that attacking talent.

His first mistake was to appoint assistants who lacked coaching pedigree at the highest level and then his fixation with development ignored the need to build winning momentum.

The countdown to the tournament became immersed in ill-feeling when he sent out a team of innocents to be slaughtered at Twickenham. Since arriving in France, the problems snowballed. The opener against Canada was marked by more selection unrest as Dwayne Peel was named captain while Gareth Thomas and Stephen Jones were on the bench.

Then came the defeat by Australia as senior players expressed dismay at the overly 'structured' gameplan.

There was a whiff of controversy, too, as players complained about being woken up in the early hours last Thursday by coaching staff returning from a night of heavy drinking.

While Jenkins retreats to lick his wounds, Thomas expects the 100th cap he won on Saturday to be his last.

Colin Charvis is another who has surely played his last game for Wales, but several squad members can do better in four years' time. All they need is a coach to unlock their potential.

WALES COACHING CONTENDERS

WARREN GATLAND

The former Ireland coach guided Wasps to a hat-trick of Guinness Premiership titles and a Heineken Cup victory before returning home to New Zealand to coach Waikato. Recently turned down position of assistant coach with Super 14 franchise the Chiefs.

EDDIE JONES

Guided Australia to the 2003 World Cup final and is currently working as a technical advisor with South Africa, who could have been Wales' World Cup quarter-final opponents. Jones spent an unsuccessful year in charge of Queensland after losing the Wallabies job and is working with Saracens as consultant after the World Cup.

SCOTT JOHNSON

The Australian was a member of the Wales coaching staff in the Grand Slam year of 2005 and remains a favourite among the players. He is currently working as attack coach with Australia but the Wallabies backroom staff is set to be broken up after the World Cup when head coach John Connolly retires.

NICK MALLETT

The former England international guided South Africa to a record-equalling run of 17 successive victories and to the 1999 World Cup semi-finals. Mallett won two league titles with Stade Francais and is currently working as a coach at Western Province.

PHIL DAVIES

The front-runner among the Wales-based coaches, Davies succeeded Jenkins in charge of the Llanelli Scarlets. Davies has no international coaching experience and built his reputation by guiding Leeds into the Guinness Premiership and then qualifying for the Heineken Cup.