CoaCH’s Column

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD COACH

DWAYNE

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! It would be amazing if I could be writing here about welcoming all our fans to a packed Parc y Scarlets for what promises to be a fantastic West Wales derby this evening.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case which is a huge disappointment to us all.

We all know and recognise what this match means to our supporters, it is the one game we all search for first when the fixtures come out and just looking back at footage of previous matches between the two sides, a full house crammed in here makes it an incredible occasion and one I was really looking forward to.

We understand the reasons why restrictions have been brought in and hopefully it won’t be too long before we can welcome you back here.

A lot has happened since our last competitive game against Benetton back in October and it’s certainly been a frustrating few weeks for everyone since we came out of isolation in Belfast.

Firstly, Bordeaux was postponed and then the Cardiff match, which was disappointing for everyone. The boys had really trained well and we felt we were in a good place going into that Boxing Day clash, but in fairness to all the players they have had to move on quickly and they have done that. Yes, it is tough to get up physically and mentally for a game only for it not to happen at the last minute, but the message that has been driven within the squad is that we have to be ready to go again.

The boys are professionals, they want to be out there playing rugby and thankfully, we have managed to get over the line for this game.

Credit too to all our back-room staff for all the work they have done in the face of plenty of challenges over recent weeks and months. From getting us home from South Africa, to keeping the boys engaged in quarantine, to ensuring we have been ready to go in all the games since, it really has been a team effort.

With Covid-19 still a big part of our lives, I’d like to thank the Scarlets Family for all your support in recent months and wish you all a Happy new Year with your loved ones.

Mwynhewch y gêm. Blwyddyn newydd dda i chi gyd.

Dwayne

PLAYER FEATURE SCARLETS Vs ospreys

J-Mac

MCniCHOll EnjOying SliCing OPEn dEFEnCES AFtEr tOugH PrE-SEASOn

A quick glance at the Scarlets’ stats for the season will show why Johnny McNicholl is playing his rugby with a big broad smile on his face.

Most offloads, most metres run, joint most defenders beaten (with Steff Evans) and most tries. If it wasn’t the case that he hasn’t pulled on a Scarlets jersey since the round four loss to Leinster, he would be a contender for one of the form players in domestic rugby.

McNicholl transferred that impressive form into Wales’ autumn series and will be keen to keep on running into the New Year and beyond.

“He has been excellent,” said head coach Dwayne Peel. “Johnny trained really hard and put in a massive shift in pre-season. In terms of the numbers, he did the most meterage, so he’s trained really hard over the summer. “He’s fit and you can see the benefits of that. I spoke to him at the start of the year and his goal was to try and get back in the wales squad. He’s a good character, strong-willed, and he speaks his mind in the group. He’s a good asset for us.”

McNicholl headed back to New Zealand in the summer, an opportunity to see his family and for his two young daughters to spend some treasured time with their grandparents. “I asked the club if I could go back because I hadn’t seen family for two and a half years and my kids hadn’t seen their grandparents,” he explained.

“it was the first time my youngest, Poppy, who is two now, had met her grandparents. It was the second time that my eldest daughter, August, who is three, had met them.

“it was brilliant. it was awesome.” Of course, that trip down south included the mandatory spell in quarantine for travellers from the uk, which gave McNicholl an insight of what was to come when the Scarlets headed to Belfast for their 10-day stint post-South Africa.

“In New Zealand, I actually got a little bit of anxiety when I got out of quarantine because i hadn’t been around people for months with all the isolation! New Zealand was normal and it was weird being in crowds again. But now they’re back in lockdown and we’re all going through this omicron business.

“It did give me the upper hand on the boys (in Belfast), I knew what was coming, but it was still pretty tough. After those 10 days, it was just nice to get back out, have some fresh air and go out when you wanted as well, that freedom.”