"I find it very difficult to work with the group of people that manage Welsh rugby at this time," is Llanelli Scarlets coach Gareth Jenkins' reaction to speculation that he might be in line to become successor to Mike Ruddock as Welsh coach.

Jenkins was believed to be in pole position to become the national coach in succession to Steve Hanson before Ruddock was appointed and his statement that ""I wouldn't want to work with people who I felt let me down particularly badly," is hardly a ringing endorsement of those who have removed the man who blinsided Jenkins.

However, whatever antipathy Jenkins may have felt towards Ruddock at that time seems to have dissolved in the wake of Ruddock's achievements. " "I was as flabbergasted and as shocked as everyone else in Wales I think." he said.

"All I can say is Mike has had an amazing, short international rugby career. He's won a Six Nations Grand Slam for the first time in 27 years and that says it all."