After a strong individual performance against Worcester Warriors at Parc y Scarlets, fly-half Rhys Priestland has said he is ‘really enjoying’ his rugby with the Scarlets.
He says the players will go away for a week’s break in a ‘good place’ after two impressive performances from a youthful Scarlets side in the LV=Cup that has been without seven of its internationals.
Mentioned in dispatches by Wales Head Coach, Warren Gatland at the weekend, as one to watch within of a batch of emerging talent in the Welsh regions, Priestland says he’s just concentrating on life with the Scarlets.
He said: “Obviously it’s always good to be mentioned by the Head Coach of Wales, but I am just really enjoying playing down here at the moment and that’s all I can concentrate on. When Steve’s away or I get my opportunity to play, then I just want to do my very best.”
Priestland produced an excellent solo effort, securing 17 points (one try, two penalties, three conversions) in the Scarlets 32-17 defeat of the Warriors at Parc y Scarlets on the stadium’s first birthday.
Head Coach Nigel Davies congratulated Priestland on a great personal effort at the weekend in tricky conditions.
“We all know what Rhys is capable of, yes he’s a bit of an enigma at times, but he plays some great rugby and he is as good as anybody technically in that position,” he said.
“The more he plays at the top level, the more confidence it will give him and the more consistent he will become.
“He’s working very hard at his goal kicking at the moment, in training this week he was striking well and getting everything.”
Speaking about his try which saw him run from the half way line, Rhys Priestland joked: “I was bit gutted when there was nobody there to pass to! But of course it was nice to get a try under my belt.
“The conditions out there were quite tough with the wind, which made it difficult for both sides to kick from the floor and out of hand.
“But it was great to get a bonus point win and I thought the team played particularly well.”
Priestland added: “Every game we play the Head Coach tells us never to stop playing if it’s on and that we have got to back ourselves, and in the last few weeks we’ve shown some of that belief on the pitch.
“The forwards have been outstanding and it has given the backs a really good platform to play and the outside backs have run some good lines.”
Priestland believes the team is gelling well at the moment: “This game is only going to strengthen our position, we want to do well in every competition we play in.
“It was great last week to see a lot of our younger players perform well, they all stood up and have bought into the way we want to play. I think we can be pleased with our last two weeks of rugby.”
