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

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

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.

“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.

“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

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