Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'The Italy game was hard for Sam' - Wales star Costelow needs 'help'

Wales Sam Costelow during the pre match warm up during the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between Wales and France at Principality Stadium on March 10, 2024 in Cardiff, Wales.(Photo by Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Sam Costelow has been urged to play with a smile on his face and enjoy his rugby as he returns to BKT URC action.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was a difficult Six Nations for Costelow as he shared in Wales’ wooden spoon, while the spotlight is always on the No 10 in Welsh rugby.

But Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel has full belief in the 23-year-old who starts at fly-half against Benetton.

Video Spacer

Is the Welsh dragon dead? | RPTV

Can Welsh rugby come back from this disastrous Six Nations campaign? Watch the full Six Nations breakdown on the Boks Office on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Video Spacer

Is the Welsh dragon dead? | RPTV

Can Welsh rugby come back from this disastrous Six Nations campaign? Watch the full Six Nations breakdown on the Boks Office on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

“I have been part of a wooden spoon campaign myself and it’s emotionally tough at the time,” said the former Wales scrum-half.

“The Italy game was hard for Sam. He was obviously on the back foot and for any 10 that’s going to be hard. That is the reality.

“But I know how good a player he is and how important he is to us.

“He needs to go out and enjoy his rugby. I don’t like it when I see him putting too much pressure on himself.

“I think we need to help him in that respect as well. It’s not a case of mollycoddling him.

That’s not what I am saying. “You have got to give him direction, but people around him are equally as important to drive him through.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He has been a top performer for us. He has got a good skill set. He is a leader for us and he will be for many years.”

Peel added: “For us, it’s about going out and expressing ourselves. The likes of Sam, I want them to play with a smile on their face and go out and play rugby.”

With Costelow starting at No 10, Wales’ other fly-half during the Six Nations, the versatile Ioan Lloyd, switches to full-back, while scrum-half Gareth Davies also returns from the Test camp to skipper the side with Jonathan Davies coming into the centre.

Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA

ADVERTISEMENT

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 38th league game)

AR 1: Rhys Jones (WRU) AR 2: Elliot Mayor (WRU)

TMO: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Live on: S4C, Viaplay, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Scarlets: Ioan Lloyd, Tom Rogers, Jonathan Davies, Johnny Williams, Tomi Lewis, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies (CAPT), Kemsley Mathias, Shaun Evans, Harri O’Connor, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita

Replacements: Eduan Swart, Wyn Jones, Sam Wainwright, Morgan Jones, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Kieran Hardy, Eddie James, Steff Evans

Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Ignacio Mendy, Malakai Fekitoa, Filippo Drago, Onisi Ratave, Jacob Umaga, Andy Uren, Federico Zani, Siua Maile, Simone Ferrari, Edoardo Iachizzi, Eli Snyman (CAPT), Alessandro Izekor, Toa Halafihi, Lorenzo Cannone

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Ivan Nemer, Tiziano Pasquali, Riccardo Favretto, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Garbisi, Tomas Albornoz, Leonardo Marin

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
f
finn 243 days ago

Nothing will make Costelow feel better than reading the headline “Wales star Costelow needs 'help'“

This was a decent - if slightly “paint by numbers" - article, but the headline seems like it is designed to make Costelow feel condescended and Peel feel misrepresented.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

LONG READ
LONG READ 'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame' 'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'
Search