Elias can burst out of Owens’ shadow now – Peel

RYAN Elias was one of the success stories of Wales’ recent autumn campaign, but Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel insists we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.

The Scarlets hooker has been behind Wales and British & Irish Lions star Ken Owens at both club and national level for several years. But with Owens currently out injured, and approaching the end of his career, Elias has risen to the challenge.

And Scarlets head coach Peel is confident the 27year-old, who is almost certain to be Wales’ first choice hooker in the upcoming Six Nations, will get better and better.

“He’s been good,” said Peel. “Obviously, I was delighted for him in the autumn because he was a big positive. His carrying game was excellent.

“The thing with Ryan is we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. I think when he gets a consistent run of games, we can really see him flourish.

“He has been behind a Test Lion for both his club and his national team.

“He’s a good leader for us. He was captain last year, leads by example, and he’s a big guy. People don’t realise how big he is.

“He really wants to push on. I’m looking forward to getting him back onto the field.

“Wales will probably take him in the Six Nations, and it’ll be good for him to have a run of games there as well.”

With Scarlets captain Jonathan Davies in his 34th year, and the likes of Owens, Scott Williams, and Aaron Shingler also approaching their midthirties Peel is keen to develop a new generation of leaders at the Scarlets. And he sees Elias as a player who has a big role to play.

“He is a prime example,” said Peel when asked about leaders in his squad. “He definitely has that quality in him. Josh Macleod is another.

“Leadership: can it be taught? Is it nature? Is it nurture? It’s a bit of everything really.

“We’ve got a raft of older players who have been really successful in the game, but it’s vitally important that we get voices coming from underneath.”