Just Joshing . . . Old School Scarlets Skipper Macleod Making Up For Lost Time

Josh MacLeod is ready for Wales recall. Pic: Getty Images.

Just Joshing . . . Old School Scarlets Skipper Macleod Making Up For Lost Time

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By Simon Thomas

Scarlets skipper Josh Macleod is a man making up for lost time in a big way.

The luckless flanker has been plagued by injuries over the past few years, including a ruptured Achilles, knee ligament damage, shoulder surgery and hamstring issues.

That’s severely limited his regional appearances – just three last season – and restricted him to only the two Wales caps.

But now he’s finally enjoying a change in fortunes – and grabbing the opportunity with both hands.

Having fully recovered from the serious knee injury he suffered in January, he’s started eight of the Scarlets’ last nine games and has really been making his mark.

Leading by example as captain, he’s demonstrated the all-action endeavour which has seen him called up by Wales in the past and is now resulting in him being mentioned as a squad contender once again.

He’s scored five tries in his last four outings and was Player of the Match in the Challenge Cup victory over Georgian side Black Lion two weeks ago, when he touched down twice and made more tackles (24) than any other player in the competition.

Now he will take his inspirational form into the New Year’s Day big URC derby against the Dragons at Parc y Scarlets.

After everything he has been through, the 28-year-old is understandably happy to be fit and firing.

“I am good. It has taken a fair amount of graft to stay feeling good, but it is pleasing for myself on a personal note, definitely,” he said.

“Obviously, last year was frustrating. Some may argue I was used to it by then. I haven’t had the best of track records, to be honest, since snapping my Achilles.

“Look, it is what it is. The gods decided I wasn’t to play more than three games last season. Thankfully, they are on my side this year and long may that continue.

“The most frustrating part of being injured was from a captaincy perspective. You want to be out there when the team is struggling because you want to be able to contribute. So that was massively frustrating.”

The Monte Carlo-born, but Pembrokeshire-raised Macleod is certainly contributing in a big way now, amid the Scarlets winning four of their last seven matches and being in the hunt during every fixture this season.

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“In contrast to last year, it is certainly pleasing that we are in games,” he said.

“We are fighting – desperation, desire, hunger from the boys can never be questioned, which is certainly a positive.

“We have worked hard behind the scenes as players, especially defensively. We have put a massive emphasis on it and it seems to be coming through in games. We have been on song defensively all season.

“But there’s still plenty to work on, plenty to look at, especially going into a big derby.”

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel is full of praise for the way his “old school” captain has battled back from successive body blows.

“I am obviously delighted for him because I know he has invested a lot,” said the former Wales scrum-half.

“It’s tough when a player is so committed to playing rugby and then he gets an injury and a long lay-off.

“You see him working so hard to get back and then it happens again, he has another injury.

“So getting him a run of games and this form he has been in now has been great because I know how much it means to him to represent the Scarlets.

“From a leadership perspective, I’ve spoken a number of times about how important he is for us, both on and off the field.

“He’s really growing into that role. He demands high standards of people around him and he also demands high standards of himself. He works bloody hard.

“As a player, it’s his intensity around stuff that’s probably the biggest thing for me. He is an all-in player. That’s probably part of why he picks up a few bumps. He’s all-in with everything he does.

“He’s tough around the breakdown, there’s his tackle work and things like hitting mauls and disrupting mauls, he’s all-in. He’s a great example for players in how he’s wholly committed.

“He’s probably a bit of an old school forward in many ways. He’s got that hard edge about him, which is great.

“I am delighted with the way he is going and delighted for him. It’s great for us as a group to have him on this form and hopefully long may it continue.”

 

WEDNESADAY, JANUARY 1

Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 6th league game)

AR 1: Ben Connor (WRU) AR 2: Adam Jones (WRU)

TMO: Tom Spurrier (WRU)

Live on: BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Josh Adams, Louie Hennessey, Ben Thomas (CAPT), Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Callum Sheedy, Ellis Bevan, Danny Southworth, Evan Lloyd, Kieron Assiratti, Seb Davies, Teddy Williams, James Botham, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Corey Domachowski, Rhys Litterick, Josh McNally, Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau, Aled Davies, Rory Jennings

Ospreys: Max Nagy, Iestyn Hopkins, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, James Fender, Jac Morgan (CAPT), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris

Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Garyn Phillips, Rhys Henry, James Ratti, Morgan Morse, Kieran Hardy, Jack Walsh, Evardi Boshoff

Cardiff Rugby Head Coach Matt Sherratt said: “It’s a case of dust yourselves down and go again (after Boxing Day). The Ospreys are a good side and that had a great win against the Scarlets before Christmas. At the moment, all derbies are tight games with four teams who are quite evenly matched. It’s about coming out on the right side of those little moments. We will need to be at our best but we are looking forward to getting back in front of our home crowd at the Arms Park. The game is already sold out and it promises to be a great occasion. These are the games everyone wants to be a part of and there is a real sense of excitement in the group.”

Ospreys Head Coach Mark Jones said: “Both teams will be on a high after the first round Christmas derbies and we’re expecting another close fought fixture in this one. Cardiff have had a strong start to the season and will be looking to build on that, but our focus is on our own performance and giving a strong account of ourselves on the day.”

Scarlets v Dragons RFC

Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 105th league game)

AR 1: Craig Evans (WRU)  AR 2: Mike English (WRU)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Scarlets: Tom Rogers, Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Blair Murray,  Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies, Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Max Douglas, Josh Macleod (CAPT), Taine Plumtree

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Kemsley Mathias, Archer Holz, Vaea Fifita Taylor, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Ioan Lloyd, Eddie James

Dragons RFC: Cai Evans, Rio Dyer, Jared Rosser, Aneurin Owen, Huw Anderson, Angus O’Brien (CAPT), Rhodri Williams; Rodrigo Martinez, Elliot Dee, Dmitri Arhip, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Chris Coleman, Nick Thomas, Dan Lydiate, Che Hope, Will Reed, Harry Wilson

Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: “The boys have been able to spend some time with their families over Christmas and have come in ready for another massive challenge. We know the Dragons are going to be competitive and are going to be physical, like they were against Cardiff on Boxing Day. Home games are always vitally important, regardless of who you play and we want to put in a big performance in front of our fans.”

Dragons RFC Backs Coach Matt O’Brien said: “We’re looking forward to getting back out on the field and improving on our last performance. There was a lot of good in the game with Cardiff, but also some clear areas that we need to address if we’re to get a positive result in Llanelli. Scarlets have had some good results this season, particularly at home where they have won the last three, stretching back to the start of October. We will need to be at our best, but it’s a New Year’s Day derby and challenge we are all looking forward to.”

 

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