Peel looking to finish European campaign on a high as Scarlets face Edinburgh 

Rock-bottom of Pool 3 and winless, the Scarlets face a strong Edinburgh side travelling to South Wales looking for a win to guarantee their own place in the knock-out stages of the competition.   

A heavy defeat in France against Clermont Auvergne disappointingly ended the West-Walians European journey for another season last weekend despite showing positives in spells. 

Peel though is keen to end the European campaign with a win to show the progress the team has made on the pitch, whilst also providing a much-needed boost within the camp ahead of the return to league action in the URC in a month’s time. 

“Europe has been a poor campaign we are not hiding from that from last year’s high to this year’s low,” said Peel. 

“We are halfway through the league games, however, and there is a long way to go. 

“From a European standpoint, two away games in France were always going to be difficult in the pool and it was a disappointing loss here against the Black Lion.  

“There has been a lot of hard work that has gone into the last couple of weeks, and we haven’t had the results to show from it. This game is vitally important to finish this block on a positive. 

“We will all have a break next week which is much needed from a players and staff perspective because the results have been tough for us.  

“Hopefully, we can then springboard that into what is an important block coming up. 

Whilst results have not been there this season, several young Scarlets players performances have attracted the watchful eye of Wales head-coach Warren Gatland.  

Eight of the West-Walians squad feature in the Kiwi’s Six Nations selection, something that Peel sees as being a fantastic experience and reward for his player’s performances over the last year. 

“I’m very pleased for them. There are four guys going into their first Six Nations campaign. They are young guys who have played well for us,” continued Peel. 

“Gar [Gareth Davies] is an old stager and is still in there too. Some we thought would go and I’m also delighted for Kemsley [Mathias] and Ioan Lloyd who have played exceptionally well as has Tom Rogers. 

“He [Joe Roberts] is a good young player who has been unlucky with injuries over the last couple of years after two big knee operations. 

“One after the England World Cup warm-up game which I thought he played particularly well in. He was unlucky in the end through injury to not have a sniff. 

“He’s a good guy, works hard and is a tough and abrasive style player. He has a lot to learn as well as he will say, but that is the exciting part because we are only scratching the surface with him. 

“They will get their first taste of Six Nations rugby and it will be a fantastic experience for them. Being presumptuous, I think Josh Macleod would have also been in the mix as well. 

“I’m happy for those boys who are going to be the core and the spine of this team for a long time. 

“Things happen in cycles. I was part of something post-Howley, Quinnell, Neil Jenkins era when we had a lot of young players, and we went through some pain at the start of the 2000s under Steve Hanson. 

“A lot of those players went on to be double and triple Grand Slam trophy winners in the end so I think there will always be cycles.  

“This one with this group is in its infancy and I think that Warren [Gatland] is right in many ways that they have to be exposed at a high level to make them better players. 

“Hopefully, the group can come together as there is good quality within it and some high-quality players within there.” 

[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]