WALES v ARGENTINA (Saturday, KO 2.30)

WALES prop Gethin Jenkins admits he’s a man under the microscope after being handed the number 1 jersey for the first autumn Test against Argentina.

The 31-year-old triple Grand Slam winner has managed to hold off the challenge of in-form Bath prop Paul James and the Ospreys’ Ryan Bevington to earn the start against the Pumas.

That is despite the British and Irish Lions star having to play second fiddle to Andrew Sheridan in the colours of Toulon. Not only that, but going across La Manche to play in the Top 14 cost Mike Phillips his starting spot after he was unable to take part in the Polish training camp.

Were it not for Adam Jones’ injury forcing Wales to hand a debut to Aaron Jarvis at tighthead then Jenkins may have missed out to a less experienced rival as the coaching staff warn of the pitfalls of playing rugby in France.

Jenkins, who will win his 91st cap, knows that he needs to repay the faith shown in him and he will also be aiming to prove that he remains Europe’s top loosehead in Lions year.

“You always have a point to prove when you put the Welsh jersey on,” he said.

“I certainly would have not taken my place for granted during this series.

“There are people putting pressure on me from behind.

“Paul James has been playing well in England and Ryan Bevington has been starting regularly for the Ospreys.

“There’s always a point to prove and this is the stage where you want to do it.

“I have not started as many games as I would have liked to leading into this but on the positive side I have been involved in 15 games with Toulon.

“I have had a minimum of 25 minutes in each game and played quite a few halves and two or three starts.

“I am quite fresh and raring to go and get stuck in for my country again.

“Sometimes not playing can work in your favour – when I played in the World Cup last year I was coming back after eight months out so I have come back from a lot more difficult challenges than this.”

Even though ex-England prop Sheridan has been ahead of him, Jenkins believes he has benefited from the rough and tumble of the Top 14.

The former Cardiff Blues star labelled it a “war of attrition” – something that will serve him well against the rugged Pumas.

And there will be no entente cordiale when he smashes into Argentina’s talisman, Toulon teammate Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, who will captain the side from number eight when he wins his 50th cap.

“Lobbe has only been back a couple of weeks but you can tell he is a leader.

“He brings a lot of class to the game up front.

“He has already made an impact since he came back from Argentina.

“We have been having a bit of banter ahead of this fixture – we stopped shaking hands a couple of days before we left!

“But Argentina have had their first experience of playing in a championship.

“They will have had a good build-up, time together and will know each other a lot better.

“And every time we play Argentina we know their strength is going to be up front.”