We are watching Nigel but at least early doors you are talking to the supporters. 

I thought his articulation of his role, relationship with Dwayne and how the role came about was excellent. Same with his statement on Hawkins and 10/12, very positive and his position is clear. 

He's experienced, been round the block and this comes across. I looked through his results with us in his previous stint and he took us from the bottom of the league to play off contenders (hence why he got the Gloucester job). My one doubt is his absence from the game and therefore whether he's familiar with more recent tactics/coaching/conditioning. 

We have to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. He always came across as a student of the game so there is hope. 

Other than Regan King (and Regan credits Nigel with improving him as an inside centre) Nigel Davies was the best and classiest inside centre I’ve seen playing for the Scarlets so he knows a thing or two about the 12 position. In the same way he can improve Joe I hope he can improve Eddie and Jonny if he stays.

"Aironi is always a tricky place to go' has lived long in my memory.

Nobody should be complimented-let alone rewarded-for seeing that Hawkins should not be picked at 10...the fact that he's been allowed to play outside half is a key indicator of the absolute state of the club (both on and off the field),and the circumstances of his recruitment need thorough examination.

GPR I've always been a voice for playing players in their preferred positions, always ....common sense from Nigel already its like a breath of fresh air tbh.

This is a difficult question to answer and only Peel can answer. If the Scarlets are truly trying to help Dwayne then he might see this as a pressure release and taking burden off his shoulders and it might work out. Will it help the players improve? I’m not sure and will Dwayne be truly invested in this new approach - I’m not convinced he will. 

Personally if I was in this position I would feel the management have no confidence in me, it’s effectively a demotion and I would be looking elsewhere for a job. 

He was a clever centre , he's articulate and intelligent, great start but the performances are the real test for him, i expect improvement tbh.

Good question .....it all comes down to an individuals values and where the next pay packet is . 

If we can catch a restart and exit properly that would be a big win for me. I’d love to see the stat on how many points we’ve conceded because we can’t take a bloody restart properly. 

The ability to inspire a team is also something which appears to be lacking. 

Absolutely agree.

Anyone else notice that in the last few games we've been sending up a jumper for the restart, with Anderson as the fielder just behind the jumper and lifters. Anderson is not seeing the ball until very late and so his chances of fielding the ball successfully are low. Stopping this practice would be a step in the right direction.

(1)

I think I forgot / didn’t know that Nigel had a management consultancy...

He was recently writing LinkedIn posts about the virtues of ISO compliance.

… So is Scarlets Rugby now a short-term client of NDQ Management Services?

(2)

He says Dwayne will now be “100% on the field, working with the players”. But it’s our on-the-fieldshowing that has looked so poor at times.

So, I’m curious… what exactly is the peripheral/DoR stuff that’s been so taking Dwayne’s time away from this coaching (as it was when Leigh was brought in)?

Interesting to hear him talk about the effectiveness of non-playing functions, like rehab - I can see how having to keep an eye on everything these days probably does up to quite a lot; many plates to spin.

(3)

Certainly talking like a business adviser… the value of alignment and identity, getting all aspects of the machine working well.

(4)

“I’m really happy with the team I’m able to select.”

“Joe’s best position is 12, we’ve got to develop him in that role.”

Josh: Simplify + believe.

—

I’m up for it, btw. Fairly excited. Credit to Simon and Jon for seeing an opportunity.

ap sior, yeah i noticed that also. I go back to my comment yesterday have the coaches actually been coaching because every single game we are terrible at taking restarts. This facet of play should be one of the more easier facets to get right as 90% of the time you are unopposed. 

On Nigel Davies, isn’t it a positive to see someone so articulate fielding questions from the media, I don’t remember seeing Leigh do that and the board have been silent for far too long.

I agree , common sense and hopefully the end of bizarre brain dead substitutions, losing was one thing but the err what the hell subs was patience limiting. 

Don’t forget he has his wife and kids to think of too. If this turns around he may stay, at least in some capacity. Otherwise it’s up sticks and look for work. Not easy. 

My opinion, CLJ has far more skills at 10 than Hawkins from what I have witnessed.

In Costellows absence the Hawkins experiment has not worked, so surely if Costellow’s injury woes continue this season (Hoepfully not, he deserves some luck) CLJ will be handed the 10 jersey.

He has far more skills and experience at 10 than Hawkins, every step CLJ has taken up the ladder he has stood out, just play him !

  Here! here! with regards Carwyn a natural 10 and rugby player .

I sit behind the coaches and all I saw of Leigh on match days was him whispering in Peels ear 3 or 4 times a game. For months I thought he was a normal supporter just talking to Peel. 

Normal supporter would have been yelling in Peel’s ear! 

Something needs to change with our centres, whether they're playing to script I don't know but they've been heads down and smash it up the middle for 2 years and getting nowhere.  So much promise a couple of years ago and no progress since, even gone backwards.  If Nigel can get them playing to potential then we'll improve no end.  It'll give our back 3 some go forward ball too.  All they rely on now are scraps, turnovers and cross field kicks.

https://youtu.be/rsMDaOhEhLE?si=UAJk5f7JQ9aFPoa-" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/rsMDaOhEhLE?si=UAJk5f7JQ9aFPoa-

I am sorry Cofi - doing the honourable thing can take a walk if I have a family, mortgage & contract. 

Enjoyed that. Thanks! I like the emphasis on going back to basics. Will be interesting to see team selection after comments on Hawkins also 

Ouch.

One thing I get from that is how well Josh speaks we are lucky to have him as captain of our club. 

He needs other players to help him and step up to his standards. 

Saints expecting to slam us , form book and everything points to a utter whitewash, and yet everything could work in our favour .

Yes they have.

New focus .

A showdown between Haddock and Plumtree. Hope the latter is selected.

An easy one - it would depend on how much you have in the bank, whether you have a family to support, and how easy it would be to get another job!

A good point... I haven't been clear if this is deliberate - if they are using the jumper as a decoy to give Anderson a chance to catch the ball and start his run - or accidental - the jumper and lifters are consistently misjudging where the ball will come down.

If deliberate, it isn't working because as you say Anderson doesn't have time to see the ball clearly and has dropped it a few times. 

It's deliberate.

So absolutely nothing to do with your integrity and self worth then?   If he did resign, he’d probably have a case for constructive dismissal, seeing that he’s not now picking the team and taking responsibility for results!

The most likely thing is Peel works until his contract is up and does not get renewed that’s the beauty of short term contracts.

I really like this selection by Nigel he's done what we have all been asking for.

We have little chance of winning this one but the real win will be us having a go at Northampton we very much have little to lose and should aim for high ball in play throw the ball about and show what a talented backline we have.

I chatted with Razor this morning, and he said the job is too big for him.

Who is Razor?

In all seriousness, he’s the just sacked Kiwi coach of the All Blacks who won 7 consecutive club championships with his team. Player power dictated…..

Another coach who wasn’t comfortable in front of the cameras, it seemed. Despite his breakdancing skills extraordinaire, displayed on many a post final triumph, the camera was altogether a more challenging adversary it would seem.

Perhaps he’s a rugby genius and gets the New Zealand job, replacing Robertson 

Don’t let me down on Saturday Nige!

YMLAEN

Holding off for now. We have been good Scarlets, bad Scarlets all season. Fingers crossed.

Nigel, " we have players that don't know how good they are " or words to that effect.

Love it.

This is both epic marketing and genius management. The world is your oyster and look at how talented we are! 

Great post 

Yep - need to believe now. Great to see Archer back two beefy second rows and Morse on the bench - need parity scrum time and we can play. 

For the first time in a long while we’ve selected pretty much the same starting 15 and every back who played well last weekend (who is fit) gets a chance to back their performance with another, so some needed consistency of selection.

Add to that, his language about the players can only have a positive effect on their psyche, which has probably taken a real hiding in recent months, Dwayne’s negative demeanour is bound to rub off on some of the younger (more impressionable squad members).

Also, I saw a subtle change in our style of play last weekend with a shift away from a predominantly kick to compete game to a let’s move the opposing team around the park and keep them guessing game.  I expect us to be very competitive tomorrow and for us to really kick on and improve following the first break, as the players will have more time on the training ground to practice and hopefully perfect some of the changes to our game plan.

It’s clear from the few interviews that Nigel has made, he is a very good communicator with a very good analytical mind, both very important traits for a director of rugby (or head coach?), and despite being out of the game for a long time he can still make a difference.

Agree ....positivity can change everything 

Would have liked to have seen Page outside Eddie and Ellis at 15 with Blair on wing mind. 

If not, he has gone from starting every game and nearly  every minute  to not featuring.

I have questioned  Dwayne 's policy here, Despite the fact that Gareth has been playing  well and won us the game at Cardiff.

No player , whether they are 35 or any age Dan beat their sharpest playing continually. 

Gareth may retire at some point,  so Archie and Blacker need game time.

Is this Nigel's call ?

Listening  to him speak,  it's given meg a renewed sense of optimism tinged with realism . 

There are so many  little things  that change the tide of change.

Hopefully Nigel,can tweak these  changes.

I am not expecting miracles, and  people need to realise tomorrow are facing a side in Ulster,  who seem to be moving along like a well oiled  engine.  Their  results speak for themselves .

Hopefully  a good performance,  and win will be a bonus

Correct. We need points on the board now, to restore a bit of pride. 

We simply have to climb up the table before the season ends

Just going back to what I posted 

Bloody knew we could do it, the boys showed just that to get the win. Ellis Mee.......what a cherry to stick on top right there!!!!!

What a difference a change in personnel make

As for Nigel Davies, he’s made a big difference in just 12 days, he’s come in, taken the stress off Dwayne and simplified the selection and match day tactics.

Rugby is a very simple game really, so he’s just got the team to go back to basics, 

Good man

If we were to get 9  points from the next 3, it might still be statistically possible.

But in reality, 9th or 10th would be the best we can hope for. We've left too many points go already 

If we can keep our irreplaceable players fit we should move away from the bottom and could finish as the 2nd or 3rd Welsh team. 

Glasgow, Ulster and Cardiff all beaten. Leinster should be a doddle.

   Very impressed with Nigel , talks so well and teally made a difference in our performance and style of play . We are back playing the Scarlets way .

   I have been knocking my head against a brick wall regards Ellis Mee at 15 , the lad oozes class and born to play 15 . To take that try as he did was fantastic!!! And so late in the game .

Odds anyone?

Mee has hardly put a foot wrong since he came to Llanelli - must be one of the very best signings of recent years, among a number of very good ones. If he's mainly responsible for the recent influx of good players, we'll need to start a collection for a Cubby statue soon!

Truly hope we keep him.