Javan Sebastian was delighted to become the unlikely hero as Cardiff snatched a dramatic win over the Scarlets on Saturday.

The Blue & Blacks looked down and out, trailing 24-7 as the 70-minute mark approached but they refused to give up. 

Momentum turned as the final 10 minutes approached and with the Scarlets infringing cynically to prevent scores they were reduced to 14 and then 13 men. 

Taine Plumtree was binned ahead of Sebastian’s first for slapping the ball out of a breakdown, while Blair Murray joined him for a deliberate knock on in the build up to Cam Winnett’s crucial score. 

That set up a thrilling finale and with seconds to spare, Sebastian burrowed over with the help of Danny Southworth for his second try of the game and his third against the Scarlets this season.

Corniel joked at full-time: “It doesn’t happen often, the tight-head coming on and getting man of the match. You assume it’s going to be someone who scores two tries but it is usually one of the pretty boys!”

The victory was a crucial one for the Blue & Blacks and took them from ninth to sixth after other results went against them.

Reflecting on the performance and result, Sebastian said: “I came on in the second half when the pressure was on us, but I thought the boys all dug really deep in that second half. 

“We were making silly errors, trying to play individual stuff, not sticking together and doing what we planned. 

“But we had a good chat under the posts a couple of times and just said to get back to basics, do what we are good and we came out on top. 

“We showed what we can do as a team when we stick to what we are good at and it was a good win. I’m just glad we came out on the right side of the result.”