AS an epitaph for a team player, Simon Easterby's words could barely be bettered: ''If I got my head kicked in and we won, I'd be happy.''

The ex-Ireland captain's selfless on-pitch attitude will stand him in good stead as he starts a new career as a full-time coach.

The Scarlets players will know Easterby isn't just talk, for in more than a decade of playing for the West Walians the back-rower put his body on the line with an almost masochistic relish.

Wasps, in particular, seemed to have it in for Easterby. In 2005, Gareth Jenkins raged at the London club for what he saw as ''cynical targeting'' of the then Scarlets captain, who suffered a split eyelid and a scraped eyeball in a Heineken Cup clash in High Wycombe.

In the same season, again against Wasps, Easterby was knocked out in the Powergen Cup final and had to be put in the recovery position by Mark Jones after swallowing his tongue.

Then Raphael Ibanez got a four-week ban for stamping on Easterby in the 2008 Heineken Cup.

Throw in multiple other injuries the blindside has suffered, and you get a picture of a player operating on the edge, with an almost reckless disregard for his own safety.

What will he bring to the Scarlets as their defence coach?

''A good work ethic,'' he said. ''And I won't ask players to do something I would not have done myself.

''We have been leaking too many tries in recent seasons and it is important we tighten up.

''I think I can offer technical knowledge, and we will be looking to make sure our organisation is correct, but ultimately defence is a state of mind. You have to make sure you take the field with the right attitude.''

As a player, Easterby missed out on the two big northern hemisphere prizes, the Heineken Cup and a Grand Slam, his Test rugby retirement coming a season before Ireland swept the European board.

But he is packing in with no major regrets.

''It's about trying to make the best of what you have for the good of the side,'' said Easterby, who turned down the chance to play for England.

''If I got my head kicked in as a player and we won, I'd be happy.

''Missing out on the Heineken Cup was tough, especially in 2002 when we played Leicester in the semi-final and could have beaten them.

''That was probably the strongest club side I played in, with a group of forwards featuring Scott Quinnell, Robin McBryde, Chris Wyatt, Dave Hodges, Ian Boobyer, John Davies — an outstanding pack, really."

Easterby has high hopes for the youngsters pushing through in the Scarlets' back row, led by Rob McCusker and Josh Turnbull.

''They can be as good as they want to be. Rob has won caps and shown he can perform at Test level, while Josh is also capable, tough and versatile.

''As a team, consistency is the aim. We need to hit a high standard and stay there."