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Fly-half Sam Costelow has given Scarlets a fitness boost before Sunday’s Champions Cup trip to Northampton – freeing them up to put Joe Hawkins back to his “primary role” at centre.
Costelow has not featured since an appearance off the bench at Bordeaux-Begles on 13 December after rolling an ankle in training before the United Rugby Championship (URC) derby at Cardiff.
Hawkins, who started at centre for Wales in the autumn Tests against New Zealand and South Africa, has pulled the strings from 10 in the last five fixtures.
However, new boss Nigel Davies intends to use the 23-year-old as a ball-playing centre.
“Sam is a natural 10 and it’s different with Joe,” said the interim director of rugby, who has come in above head coach Dwayne Peel.
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“Joe is a fantastic rugby player and we have to be careful with him, because he has been moved around a little bit.
“I know and he knows as well that his best position is 12 and we’ve got to develop him in that role.
“He played against New Zealand and you know he just amazed everybody with his ability, so we’ve got to get him back into that role.”
Former Ospreys back Hawkins returned to Wales from Exeter in the summer and has made 10 club appearances along with his two Test starts.
He has started at inside centre just once for Scarlets – on debut against Munster in round one of the URC – with six starts at fly-half and three outings off the bench.
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Costelow has made five starts and two appearances as a replacement while youngsters Elis Price and Carwyn Leggatt-Jones have also been back-ups.
“A ball-playing 12 being comfortable to play a 10 is useful but it’s not the primary role,” said former Wales and Llanelli centre Davies about Hawkins’ versatility.
“It brings good attributes to our game as well because it gives us two first receivers and communicators in those positions.
“Sam will benefit from Joe’s ability to understand the pressures that he’s under and communicate.”
Scarlets name their team to face Northampton at midday on Friday with lock or flanker Max Douglas back from suspension after his 20-minute red card against Dragons on New Year’s Day.
