SAM’S CAMEO WAS A RARE TREAT
CONTRARY to widespread opinion, it wasn’t gloom and doom all the way for Welsh rugby on New Year’s Day.
While there were lots of injuries and an entertainment bypass for long periods in the regional derbies, a ray of sunlight did actually pierce the clouds.
It came in the form of a startling cameo off the bench from young flyhalf Sam Costelow.
The 19-year-old had featured in only two previous competitive games for the Scarlets, yet in 15 minutes against the Dragons he displayed touches of class that set him apart from so much else that went on during a largely dispiriting start to 2021 for the regional game.
His effort was notable for the confidence he showed.
This wasn’t a nervy teenager coming on to the field afraid of his own shadow, scared to take risks for fear of making a mistake, whose first option was always the most conservative one.
Costelow varied his passes, attempted a loop at one stage, looked to challenge defenders, showed vision and rounded off his display with a picture-book try.
It was an effort that would doubtless have pleased the watching Wayne Pivac and Stephen Jones. They’d have needed some cheer while running the rule over a game that would have had supporters running for the exits had any of them actually been permitted in during these Covid-hit times.
But the youngster with No. 22 on his back did raise the tone.
By full time, former Wales international Paul Turner was declaring on social media: “Costelow is the future.”
Turner (circled, right) should know.
He was one of the cleverest flyhalves in the game back in the day, about whom a highly regarded flanker once said: “He’s the most difficult No. 10 to face. You have absolutely no idea what he’s going to do next.”
Turner was the antithesis of a fly-half who painted by numbers.
He could run a game but he also boasted flair and unpredictability and could find gaps no-one else saw.
He also coached Costelow when the then Leicester Tigers youngster was on loan at Ampthill.
So what did the newcomer actually do?
We ran a microscope over his performance.
SUPERB TRY
It provided an antidote to the mediocrity that had been on show for pretty much the whole of the Scarlets v Dragons encounter.
With 64 seconds left on the clock, Gareth Davies did well to palm up a loose ball to Costelow some 25 metres out.
Here’s the truly impressive bit. The teenager immediately sensed something was on, thinking a split-second quicker than those facing him. That’s what quality players do. They buy themselves time and space through their mental processes. Costelow knew what was going to happen next, the Dragons defenders didn’t have a clue.
A hint of a move left preceded a swerve right and suddenly alarm bells were ringing in the opposition ranks.
Carrying the ball beneath one arm, Costelow then pressed the accelerator pedal to evade the attention of Owen Jenkins, with Aneurin Owen unable to do anything about it.
A dive over the line finished the play off.
It was a brilliant score the game didn’t deserve.
PROBING PASSING
There were only three passes from Costelow in the quarter of an hour he was on the field. There was a skilful, clever short ball to Steff Evans, after which the Scarlets replacement looped around the wing to take the return.
There was also a lofted delivery over the head of a Dragons defender, again to Evans.
Demonstrating vision, it created space for the wing and a try almost resulted.
And there was also a delayed pass which saw Costelow looking to buy space. It went behind Tom Prydie, but throughout his time on the field the newcomer was looking to probe and try something different.
RUNNING THREAT
A dart forward followed an offload from Phil Price that Costelow wouldn’t have thanked the prop for afterwards.
Costelow had zero space and took contact. Impressively, he protected the ball, working hard and presenting it back neatly.
It was only a small thing – but it would not have gone unnoticed by the Scarlets coaches.
A minute and a half later the product of Pencoed Comprehensive School again found himself in heavy traffic.
This time he made yardage as he found his way past three defenders. No other Welsh fly-half on view that day beat a single opponent.
His run for the try that rounded matters off showcased his pace.
The ex-leicester Tiger is building an attacking game.
STANDING UP IN DEFENCE
There’s not much to see here.
Not much in terms of numbers, that is.
But Costelow showed courage within a minute of taking the field by standing his ground to take down Aaron Wainwright as the Wales backrower burst away from a scrum.
It would have been easy for the youngster to flinch as a determined Wainwright ran towards him.
But he’s known for being made of the right stuff and he stopped the big Dragon with a textbook hit: hard and low, swiping his opponent’s legs from under him.
KICKING
We need to see much more before we can accurately judge him in this category.
One kick from Rhodri Williams was returned with interest, with Costelow pumping the ball back 50 metres.
There was another kick to touch from a penalty which fell some way short of the flag. It was the only conservative moment from the Wales age-grade star in his short time on the field.
But, still, maybe it was understandable, with the priority being to make sure his team had an attacking platform to work off.
WHAT NEXT?
It’s still early days, of course for Costelow.
But ‘very exciting’ pretty much sums him up.
Just maybe, Turner is right and he could prove a major asset to region and country in the months and years ahead.