SAM’S A MAN WHO COULD GO FAR
DISRAELI once reckoned there was no education like adversity, but the old boy probably never had to line up at No. 10 on a rugby field against a pack of forwards doing their level best to trample over everything and anyone in their way.
Such was Sam Costelow’s lot for 33 minutes for the Scarlets against Sale in Llanelli earlier this month.
The visitors and their many South Africans broke tackles almost at will as they roared forward. A herd of wildebeest might have been easier to stop.
Twenty-four tackles were missed by the home team, one in four scrums was lost and roughly the same number of Scarlets line-outs went awry.
There were also six Sale tries.
But amid such carnage Costelow quietly looked made of the right stuff after his appearance as a thirdquarter replacement.
For a start, he didn’t go missing in action. He made three tackles and tried to put an imprint on the game.
There were some notable runs that yielded 58 metres for his side and a pinpoint kick to the corner from a penalty which set up the platform from where Jac Morgan scored a late try.
OK, we are not talking fishes-andloaves stuff, but there were distinct glimpses of class in adversity.
The effort augured well. When a player stands up when everything’s going wrong for his team, it shows a certain character.
It’s still early days for Costelow, of course – he celebrated his 20th birthday in January – but he seems to weigh up situations quickly, has nice skills, is developing his kicking game and has an eye for a gap.
Wayne Pivac is said to have been impressed with him and, just nine games into his senior career, the Scarlets feel they have on their hands a player with potential.
“He’s brilliantly talented,” said head coach Glenn Delaney (circled, below).
“We’ve managed to give him exposure this season, with a little knock being the only thing getting in his way.
“He’s refining his game, and playing outside three really good half-backs that we have at this club will give him the time and space in which to operate.
“He runs square and he fixes defenders, then he can ball play, preserving space for outside. “That’s all we want to do here is preserve space for our outside backs who are very good in that sort of environment. “Sam’s also very tough.
“It’s a dangerous combination when you’re not a massive man and you’re very brave, but he doesn’t shy away from anything.
“He’s a gain-line 10 who can take the attack to the line.
“The other thing I enjoy is that he doesn’t shirk anything defensively. “He will find the biggest bloke and go and try hit him as hard as he can and drop him.
“That’s all you can ever ask for. “He’s a courageous young man.” The Pencoed product played some of his rugby at inside centre and fullback in school but fly-half is where he most enjoys playing.
His childhood hero was James Hook, with Costelow spending time in the Ospreys U16s set-up before leaving Wales to study at Oakham School and be part of Leicester Tigers’ academy.
He won two academy titles with Leicester and trained with the Wales senior squad last year.
Is it too soon for him to be floated as a candidate for senior honours or should he be left to develop at under20s level in a Wales context?
“It depends what Wayne is thinking,” said Delaney.
“I know they like him. They’ve seen him and had him in and around the group when he’s been with Wales U20s.
“He’s putting his foot forward. “That 10 shirt for Wales is pretty hotly contested.
“There are a couple of great guys who played in the Six Nations.
“And there are guys behind them as well. There are good guys in the re
Young Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow has a growing fan club.
Picture: Huw Evans Agency
gions.
“If Sam bides his time he’ll keep improving.
“That’s the key thing at his age, to keep getting better.
“If you look at the level Dan Biggar and Callum Sheedy are operating at right now, they’re experienced, they’ve taken things on board, learned and got better.
“I’d like to think that over time Sam will be a genuine part of that conversation.”
Undoubtedly, he’s one to watch.