Ellis Jenkins is proud of Cardiff Rugby’s young internationals, saying that they have been “thrown in at the deep end and thrived” for both club and country this season.

Speaking to the Sportin Wales Podcast, the former Wales captain spoke about how one of Cardiff’s main goals this season was “to have youngsters coming through”.

Cardiff have had a frustrating season so far, winning just three of their 13 United Rugby Championship games while only losing by more than seven points in one of their nine defeats.

Inexperienced talents like Cameron Winnett, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, and Evan Lloyd have all had strong seasons for the Welsh region and have been rewarded with international selection for the 2024 Six Nations.

“It doesn’t hide away from the fact that results haven’t been great, but that is a version of success for us at Cardiff,” said Jenkins.

“One of our goals was to have the youngsters coming through and you saw during the Six Nations, you had Cam [Winnett], Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, Evan Lloyd who realistically would have only had a couple of regional games this season if the squad was at full strength.

“They’ve been thrown in at the deep end and they’ve thrived. They got their rewards with international selection.”

The Cardiff back row spoke highly of all of Cardiff’s young players but singled out a few for specific praise.

“They’ve been awesome,” he said.

“Cam [Winnett] probably is the stand out. He played a couple of games last year.

“He’s talented but he’s quiet and shy. He’s taken his game to a different level this year. Every game for Cardiff he’s been one of our stand out players. And then seeing him step up seamlessly to international rugby was superb. He didn’t look out of place at all.

“It’s not easy to get into the national team but it’s easy when you get there to be in awe and try to exist but he was able to show what he can do and impress.”

Jenkins, though, has spent the most time in the back row with newly-capped internationals Alex Mann and Mackenzie Martin.

“They [Martin and Mann] are very different players,” says the former Wales skipper.

“Manny is one of our most professional players, he learns quickly, he’s very diligent and technically brilliant.

“He’s one where if we had been full strength he would have only played 5 or 6 games this year. He’s got a lot of physical development to do. Another one that has been thrown in at the deep end and thrived.

“Between him and Cam, they are probably the first two names on the team sheet at the moment.”

With Wales missing Taulupe Faletau for this year’s Six Nations, the team sorely missed his ability to consistently get over the gain and make ground. Jenkins believes that No.8 Mackenzie Martin can fill that role in the future for Wales and Cardiff.

“With Macca, he’s very different. He’s a big, physical athlete,” he said.

“You don’t realise how big he is until you stand next to him. He played his first game and Toby Faletau presented him his jersey and he’s stood next to Toby who is a big man and Macca is dwarfing him.

“If Toby can have some influence on Macca, that would be great because Toby, in my opinion, is the GOAT. He’s not getting any younger and we need someone to step in and I think Macca is definitely going to be one of the ones in the mix to do that.

“He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical. He likes to think he’s tough. He talks about how he’s from Ely and you don’t want to mess with him!

“He has impressed me this season. He’s got some work to do in terms of learning the game and some softer skills but what was it that Gats said? ‘You can’t coach 6’5’’ and 19st’. He’s an exciting prospect.”

Ellis Jenkins also spoke about the role he has played this season in nurturing these young talents, saying that leadership is now “definitely a part” of his role within the squad.

A clear demonstration of Jenkins’ leadership qualities was captured by the player mic talking Mackenzie Martin through his first actions after coming on against Stormers earlier in the season.

“He didn’t know what [the lineout call] was,” joked Jenkins.

“I said, ‘do you know what you’re doing’ and he went ‘yeah, yeah, I’m on the ball’ and I needed to explain it to him!

“There are obviously boys who are a lot younger than me in my position and are more athletic but there’s still a big element of game understanding and reading the game.

“If that’s what I can do to help the team, then great because it’s also what I enjoy doing too.”