SCARLETS: Peel backs Dane Blacker for Wales, but doubts Gareth Davies is chasing a recall at 36

Dwayne Peel believes Dane Blacker can force his way into the Wales reckoning, but doubts Gareth Davies is chasing an international comeback at 36.

The Scarlets head coach knows the position better than most. He won 76 Wales caps at scrum-half between 2001 and 2011, and started all three Tests for the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 2005.

When he retired from Test rugby he was Wales’ most-capped scrum-half, a record later passed by Mike Phillips.

Gareth Davies: ‘mad bags of experience’

Davies came off the bench at half-time in the 27-26 win over Benetton, as the Scarlets came from 21-7 down. His display has led to talk of the former Wales scrum-half coming out of international retirement.

“Gareth’s got mad bags of experience, and for him to come on in that game was an important time for us,” Peel said.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Gareth as a professional, he’s competitive, he wants to train hard every game and every day, and it’s great for us to have him in that role really.”

But Peel said the decision was Davies’ alone. “I think that’s for Gar, it’s important that he just enjoys his rugby now, I think that’s what his mindset is, if it’s going to be his last season.”

“It might not be his last season, we’ve been saying that for the last couple of years really. I think he’s fairly content with his career so far and what he’s achieved.”

Dane Blacker ‘could definitely push’ for Wales

Peel was far more bullish about Blacker, who started at nine against Benetton.

“Because he has become far more consistent. I think he can [get into the Wales reckoning],” he said.

Blacker came back to Llanelli after a spell with the Dragons, where Peel said he did not play as much as he would have liked. “It probably took him six months or so to get back to the form that he’d showed.”

“He’s played good minutes for us, I think he can play the game quickly, he sees the game well, and he’s a real threat,” Peel said.

“I think he’s one who could definitely push if you want to play that quick, quick, expansive game.”

Archie Hughes ‘could be exceptional’

Peel also expects to see more of Archie Hughes on the South Africa trip.

“If he could put all his package together, then he could be exceptional really, he’s such a competitor,” he said. “He’s a nugget as well, he likes to get stuck into people, and he flies into everyone.”

Why Peel wants his nines to be running threats

Peel says the modern game has made a scrum-half’s speed to the breakdown more important than ever, because it stops defences setting.

“You look at [Alex] Mitchell, for example, at Northampton, when they’re on form, you’ve got your Duponts and your Lucus [Maxime Lucu], who are fantastic rugby players, but it’s the speed at which they get it away, and not just pass the ball, they can be a threat as well, and that’s key for me,” he said.

“I think the game did get into a bit of a rut of being very samey. Every team would play exactly the same way, and I think, for me, the more we can break up the game [is good], and I think nines have a big role to play in that.”

“If the nines are 10 yards up the track, and they can make decisions, then it’s harder to defend. I want my nines to be running threats, and to get the ball, get there quickly, and see the pictures really.”

The Scarlets open their Challenge Cup campaign against Newcastle at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday (8pm), before heading to Cape Town and Pretoria.