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'I am getting faster' - Louis Rees-Zammit sends Six Nations warning
Wales speed-machine Louis Rees-Zammit believes his pace has increased as he limbers up for a second Guinness Six Nations campaign.
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The Gloucester wing was a leading figure during last year’s title-winning triumph, scoring four tries and showcasing his remarkable finishing skills.
It proved a debut Six Nations to savour, and he has accelerated into this season’s tournament on the back of a spectacular 80-metre solo score for his club in their Gallagher Premiership victory over Newcastle last weekend.
“We’ve got a GPS device on the back of our shirts, and that measures everything in terms of speed,” Rees-Zammit said, ahead of Saturday’s opener against Ireland in Dublin.
Just turned 21st, Rees-Zammit previously clocked a 10.5 metres per second time – in a Gallagher Premiership against Saracens last season, which translates to 37.8 km per hour or 23.4 miles per hour.
He’s now faster.
“One day I will be quicker than the other, so I know I am getting faster.
“I have a got a speed performance coach at Gloucester (Daniel Tobin) and we work on it every day.
“We have been doing loads of drills that will help me, and it has been showing I have actually been getting quicker, which is always good.
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Only on the pitch for five minutes and Louis Rees-Zammit takes it from his own 22 all the way for another sensational try ?
The @gloucesterrugby man is different gravy!#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/xfyH8sdfWB
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 29, 2022
“I’ve got to try to do the basics well, and then my speed and all that stuff will take care of itself.”
Rees-Zammit has scored six tries in his 12 Wales Tests, and 19 in 32 games for Gloucester, while he also claimed three touchdowns on last summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
For a player who only turned 21 earlier this week – birthday celebrations included Wales team-mates providing his favourite strawberry sponge cake – he is already established as a box-office talent.
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“It (last year’s achievements) will be hard to beat, but at the same time I don’t want the second-year syndrome,” he added.
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Happy 21st Birthday to Lion #846 @LouisReesZammit
Have a great day Louis ? pic.twitter.com/rEvHlPaVXQ
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) February 2, 2022
“I’ve been working hard on my game, and I am really looking forward to the Six Nations.
“I am the same old person, really, I’ve just got a bit more experience under my belt from the last Six Nations and then the Lions tour.
“People will (know more about him), but I have to try and do more so they can’t know everything about me, which is what I kind of work on in training.
“They might know a lot about me and the way I play, but hopefully I can do things they won’t know.”
Comments on RugbyPass
You ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
32 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
5 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
32 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
5 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
5 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
9 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
5 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
32 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
9 Go to commentsWowee!
9 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
9 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
9 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
32 Go to commentsSo no Irish fan or journalist suggested JGP was as good as DuPont. Then even the guy who supposedly did is from Wales and said JGP would be the best around if it was t for DuPont. Right, so what is this story about again
19 Go to comments