CONVERTED Wales tight-head Gethin Jenkins admits recent criticism of him has "hurt."

The 23-year-old Celtic Warrior has been the centre of controversy this season as the Wales scrum has creaked and his ability has been questioned.

"I try to take no notice and carry on with the job I'm meant to do," he said, "but I am getting fed up with it now. It's just going on and on.

"I'm a loose head playing at tight head now and I can't do anything about it.

"I've been a year in my new position and I'm still on a steep learning curve and it's tough.

"I've heard some of the big names of the 1970s slagging the Welsh pack off, but it's a different game now. "The criticism does hurt and I must admit after the France game I did wonder if I'd keep my place.

"But though there are one or two tight heads coming through, there are not many about at the moment. "The coach has put me on the tight head and shown a lot of confidence in me."

Of course that could all change after the Six Nations under new Wales coach Mike Ruddock, who used Jenkins in his usual loose head role when in charge of Wales A.

"After the next two games it's going to be hard for me with a new coach with his own views on where he wants me to play," admitted Jenkins.

"I haven't spoken to Mike. Obviously I'll have to see what he says."

Comparing the two positions, Jenkins admitted being a tight-head was much tougher.

"On the loose head your attacking a lot on the opposition ball. On the tight head your getting attacked on your ball.

"The main priority is to keep your ball and you have to work right through the scrum.

"Sometimes you have the whole pack driving and trying to get at you and it is a lot tougher.

"You also get a lot more tired and worn down than on the loose head. Sometimes I get up feeling a bit dizzy and have to think 'where am I going now.

"But I'm still only 23 and still maturing."

Some pundits claimed the England scrum struggled in their defeat by Ireland, but Jenkins expects another torrid afternoon.

"I wouldn't say England's scrum struggled last week," said Jenkins.

"They have a very solid scrum with two very good props in Vickery and Woodman, so it'll be a tough test for us. They're both playing together at Gloucester and know each other and are a good combination."

Of the England game and the Six Nations generally, Jenkins added: "We can expect a backlash after England's defeat by Ireland. They're going to be fired up against us. But they are still playing the way they did in the World Cup so if we can break them down as we did then we can do well.

"When we came back from the World Cup we honestly thought we'd do very well in the Six Nations, so we've suffered a bit of a setback. "We've got to try to get back on top."