'He is going to be one of the most highly rated wingers in world rugby' - Louis Rees-Zammit put on the same level as Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe after Wales win
Welsh winger Louis Rees-Zammit has sent social media into a frenzy, with some calling him a Lions bolter after the 20-year-old scored two crucial tries in the win over Scotland at Murrayfield.
His first try came when Wales needed in most, trailing 17-3 just before the break. In the 38th minute, playing with an advantage inside the Scotland 22, the visitors spread the ball wide to Rees-Zammit, who stepped inside off his right for a score.
After the match, coach Wayne Pivac would go on to describe that try which was “vital for us going into the changeroom.”
Wales continued to play with momentum in the second-half, with Rees-Zammit again involved for another try. This time he was setting up a try, drawing in fullback Stuart Hogg before sending Liam Williams over, untouched from five metres out.
Scotland went down to 14-men after prop Zander Fagerson was shown a red card, but would trade tries with their opponents to see them still leading with just over 10 minutes to play.
But that’s when their up-and-coming talent well and truly announced himself to the rugby world, scoring his second of the night with a brilliant chip and chase, while out sprinting three Scottish backs.
Wow. Just. Wow.
Louis Rees-Zammit ??#GuinnessSixNations #SCOvWAL pic.twitter.com/1pg9o7kCbn
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) February 13, 2021
The try handed Wales a 25-24 lead which is how it stayed, and also secured them a potentially crucial attacking bonus point.
Wales fan on Twitter were singing his praises after the win, with many expecting plenty of a player who seemingly has a bright future in the game.
Louis Rees Zammit is not only a future Wales star (if he isn’t already), but he is going to be one of the most highly rated wingers in world rugby in a few years. Mark my words. #SCOvWAL
— Morgan ????????????????????? (@Morgz5631) February 13, 2021
Wales come back from 17-3 down to claim 2nd win in 2 weeks.
Scored before HT and had momentum before red card. Terrific fightback by Wales, poor game management by Scots.
Louis Rees Zammit looks like a Lions bolter…#SCOvWAL
— Jon Cardinelli (@jon_cardinelli) February 13, 2021
I’m saying it. Cheslin Kolbe and Louis Rees-Zammit are the 2 best wingers in the world right now. #SCOvWAL #GuinnessSixNations @WelshRugbyUnion
— Saffas Abroad Rugby ??? (@SaffasRugby) February 13, 2021
Louis Rees-Zammit take a bow son take a bow.
Wales found their new Shane. #SCOvWAL
ADVERTISEMENT— Adrian Hoile? (@Hoiley1) February 13, 2021
Welcome to the @lionsofficial Louis Rees-Zammit! ?????????? #SCOvWAL
— Jade B (@jade_blackburn1) February 13, 2021
What a TREMENDOUS Game in Murrayfield. What a Comeback by the Welsh. For a 20 year old Louis Rees-Zammit is a Phenomenal player ? Best Game of the Season No question #SCOvWAL
— Buff Egan (@buff_egan) February 13, 2021
Louis Rees-Zammit, take a bow. Absolutely skinned Van Der Merwe and Hogg without looking like he’s putting any effort in. Would love to know his 100m time#SCOvWAL
— Tom O’Donoghue (@TNODonoghue) February 13, 2021
Louis Rees-Zammit is going to be a world class player and has come at the right time for Pivac
#SCOvWAL— Darren Sterry (@darrensterry) February 13, 2021
Louis Rees-Zammit emerging as an absolute star in this game. #SCOvWAL
— Dale Jones (@DaleJones14) February 13, 2021
Louis Rees-Zammit. That’s it. That’s the tweet ??? #SCOvWAL @WelshRugbyUnion @LouisReesZammit
— Megan Black (@meg_black15) February 13, 2021
World class finishing, top draw!!! Get in Louis Rees-Zammit ????????????????????? #SCOvWAL #GuinnessSixNations
— Ieuan Williams ??????? (@Ieuan_Swan) February 13, 2021
Louis Rees-Zammit absolutely SMASHED that game! You beaut ?? #SCOvWAL
— ?sam? (@sailorssin) February 13, 2021
Louis Rees Zammit is not only a future Wales star (if he isn’t already), but he is going to be one of the most highly rated wingers in world rugby in a few years. Mark my words. #SCOvWAL
— Morgan ????????????????????? (@Morgz5631) February 13, 2021
After the match, captain Alun Wyn Jones also praised Rees-Zammit, who was named Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match.
“He’s been playing well for Gloucester in the Premiership. I’d heard a lot about him and seen a lot of highlights. Hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg for him,” he said.
“I don’t want to heap the pressure on him, I want him to continue in a similar vein. He’s worked hard, but I think it’s credit to the environment and the backfield players who have been helping him along.”
Wayne Pivac also commented on the 20-year-olds performance, saying that “he’s going to be a very very exciting player going forward.”
Wales won just three test matches in 2020, but the bonus-point win over Scotland has put them in a strong position to contest for the Six Nations crown.
Wales’ next Six Nations fixture is against England at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, a clash between two rivals which could have major implications for either team’s title credentials.
Comments on RugbyPass
We will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
2 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
1 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
2 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
9 Go to commentsThe Springboks tried going down the road of only picking home-based players and it was an unmitigated disaster in 2016 and 2017. Picking overseas-based players has been one of the main reason the Boks have done so well since 2018, not only because of the quality Rassie could call on, but because of the knowledge and experience those players brought into camp from England, France and Japan. With some of the big names playing abroad it also gave younger players in SA the chance to break through at franchise level. Would we have seen the emergence of a Ruan Nortje if RG and Lood were still at the Bulls? Not so sure. I understand why Jake would want to block players leaving since his job depends on good results but it’s an approach that would take Bok rugby back to the bad old days and no South African wants to see that.
9 Go to commentsExeter were thumped by 38 points. And they only had to hop on a train.
39 Go to commentsI am De Groot.
1 Go to commentsHad hoped you might write an article on this game, Nick. It’s a good one. Things have not gone as smoothly for ROG since beating Leinster last year at the Aviva in the CC final. LAR had the Top 14 Final won till Raymond Rhule missed a simple tackle on the excellent Ntamack, and Toulouse reaped the rewards of just staying in the fight till the death. Then the disruption of the RWC this season. LAR have not handled that well, but they were not alone, and we saw Pau heading the Top 14 table at one stage early season. I would think one of the reasons for the poor showing would have to be that the younger players coming through, and the more mature amongst the group outside the top 25/30, are not as strong as would be hoped for. I note that Romain Sazy retired at the end of last season. He had been with LAR since 2010, and was thus one of their foundation players when they were promoted to Top 14. Records show he ended up with 336 games played with LAR. That is some experience, some rock in the team. He has been replaced for the most part by Ultan Dillane. At 30, Dillane is not young, but given the chances, he may be a fair enough replacement for Sazy. But that won’be for more than a few years. I honestly know little of the pathways into the LAR setup from within France. I did read somewhere a couple of years ago that on the way up to Top 14, the club very successfully picked up players from the academies of other French teams who were not offered places by those teams. These guys were often great signings…can’t find the article right now, so can’t name any….but the Tadgh Beirne type players. So all in all, it will be interesting to see where the replacements for all the older players come from. Only Lleyd’s and Rhule from SA currently, both backs. So maybe a few SA forwards ?? By contrast, Leinster have a pretty clear line of good players coming through in the majority of positions. Props maybe a weak spot ? And they are very fleet footed and shrewd in appointing very good coaches. Or maybe it is also true that very good coaches do very well in the Leinster setup. So, Nick, I would fully concurr that “On the evidence of Saturday’s semi-final between the two clubs, the rebuild in the Bay of Biscay is going to take longer than it is on the east coast of Ireland”
11 Go to commentsWhat was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
39 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
86 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
86 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
14 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
14 Go to comments