Having lost their seventh game in nine last weekend in the EPCR Challenge Cup to Georgian minnows Black Lion, Peel’s side face their biggest game of the season against their greatest rivals in the United Rugby Championship knowing a win is a must to satisfy their beleaguered fans demanding change.
Having been taking apart 31-9 just last month at the Swansea.com Stadium quick progress will be needed to avoid falling to a first derby double defeat to the Ospreys since 2014.
Peel though feels he is still the right man for the job and with the backing of a bumper crowd at Parc y Scarlets his side can get back to winning ways.
“I’ve supported this club since I was three or four years old, and we’ve been through tough times before and know how brilliant our supporters are,” said Peel.
“I know they are behind us 100%, but obviously they are disappointed right now and I get that. I understand their frustration.
“For me, as head-coach of the team, I’m extremely proud of what they give us.
“I know there will be 10,000 people here on Boxing Day and it will be a terrific atmosphere, I’m sure. It is our biggest game of the season.
“It is important to note as well as squad, as staff and as a region, we are all feeling it as well.
“Everyone is working hard to try and turn things around and I’m sure we will.
“There are lots of things we are working on and there are players coming back to fitness that will give the squad a boost, because the squad at the minute is low on numbers.
“A lot of young players are playing their hearts out, but it has been hard in situations like last week.
“They probably haven’t been under that pressure before, and they have to learn and react from that.
“Rugby is an emotional game and we need to find out what the emotions were and what they are beyond that.
“We have to build on that and recognise it was not a good enough performance [against Black Lion]. We have to deal with that and move on to make sure the next performance is better.
“I have been in teams before where we have lost poorly and it’s how you bounce back. We will have to make sure we put a performance together and that’s what we can do.
“There are two standout performances which are particularly disappointing, that one and the Ospreys one. I think this now is the perfect game, in terms of sharpening our focus.
“Having the fans behind us and a great atmosphere is what we all enjoy. It will be an incredible atmosphere.”
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
