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Fans believe Twickenham is the ideal stage to give Rees-Zammit a Test debut
Josh Adams’ Six Nations-ending ankle injury is a massive blow to Wales, but one which opens the door for the popular but uncapped Louis Rees-Zammit.
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Adams was forced from the field in the loss to France last Saturday after an awkward tackle by Virimi Vakatawa, forcing centre Nick Tompkins to move to the wing.
Adams, the 24-cap winger, has scored ten tries in his past ten Wales outings, carrying his form at the World Cup into the Six Nations.
He will be sorely missed by Wayne Pivac, but Wales currently have a surfeit of wingers, certainly when compared to other positions on the field.
Having said that, Wales’ resources are beginning to be stretched out wide. Adams’ injury followed George North’s in the same match with the Ospreys wing being forced off early on after a head injury.
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Given the 27-year-old’s troubling history with concussion, he could well have a period on the sidelines, meaning two wingers are needed.
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Johnny McNicholl is likely to be promoted from the bench to face England and Liam Williams is conveniently nearing a return to playing, but the calls for the 19-year-old Rees-Zammit to be selected have increased.
Interesting to see who we play on the wings against England now. Rees-Zammit must start in my opinion, especially as North is a big doubt. Liam Williams hasn't played for months. Steff Evans?? https://t.co/8PKvwfeFm9
— Mikey Roberts ??????? (@mikeyroberts81) February 25, 2020
LRZ – while it’s a big occasion, would have played against most players in front of him. And probably run round a few of them too. ???? maybe it’s time.
— Rhod Vaughan (@rhodders9) February 25, 2020
The Gloucester winger is unquestionably one of the form Welsh wingers currently, but Pivac would understandably have had reservations about giving him his first cap based on his age and inexperience, as well as the abundance of back three players Wales seem to have.
Cardiff Blues’ Owen Lane is still yet to make a return from a hamstring injury, and Williams may take a while to return to match fitness, meaning a starting berth could be beckoning for the teenager at Twickenham on March 7.
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Scarlets’ Steff Evans is another option for Pivac if the Kiwi wants to ensure his wingers are completely fit.
Got to be time for Zammit to have a chance now north and Adams are out surely https://t.co/latEeNzsGM
— Coryn Dummett (@Coryn_D) February 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/JTWalters99/status/1232312993616023553?s=20
Having lost two matches already this Six Nations, the chances of retaining the title look very slim. It’s why the trip to London is deemed to be the perfect opportunity to blood young players into the international game.
https://twitter.com/ADF0110/status/1232290550939897863?s=20
Back three v England: Williams, Mcnicholl, Rees-Zammit
— Dafydd ??????? (@DinoDaf) February 25, 2020
England are not easy opponents for a first Test cap, but many in Wales feel Gloucester sensation Rees-Zammit warrants a place in the matchday 23 regardless of his age. This sudden spate of injuries looks like helping his debut to happen.
WATCH: The Rugby Pod rounds up all last weekend’s Guinness Six Nations and Gallagher Premiership action
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to comments