Snubbed Wales pair will look to prove Pivac wrong, says Peel
SCARLETS head coach Dwayne Peel has backed Gareth Davies and Jonathan Davies to come out firing in a bid to prove a point after missing out on Wales selection for the autumn internationals.
Scrum-half Davies was one of the surprise omissions when Wales head coach Wayne Pivac announced his squad last week, with regional colleagues Kieran Hardy and Dane
Blacker both earning spots.
Pivac said he knows what the No. 9 can and can’t do, while centre Davies has slipped down the midfield pecking order of late.
“Obviously Gareth would be disappointed,” said Scarlets boss Peel. “He didn’t get an opportunity in the summer, he’s started three of our five games.
“Look, I like Gar, I’m a great fan of his. He’s a competitor, and one thing I know about Gar is that he’ll compete now and he’ll see it as a real challenge to make sure he gets back in that squad.
“From my end, we play a game and then there’s a couple of weeks’ break and then we go to Africa.
“During that time Gar will be playing more rugby and I’m sure he’ll put his best foot forward.”
Club captain Davies was also overlooked, with Pivac opting for George North, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin and Joe Hawkins as his midfield options.
Peel said: “Anybody who knows him would say he’ll never give up.
“He’s captain of the club, he’s a great person to have in our group. I’m sure the door’s not closed for him.”