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Gloucester boss's proposal for how Wales could use Louis Rees-Zammit
By Chris Jones
Johann Ackermann is urging Wales to include flying wing Louis Rees-Zammit in their Six Nations squad after 18-year-old scored a hat-trick of tries in Gloucester’s 33-26 loss to Premiership leaders Northampton.
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Rees-Zammit showed his electric pace to pick up three tries and he is a prodigious talent that Gloucester are trying to help make the most of his outstanding skills and Ackermann is adamant the youngster would not look out of place in the first squad that Wayne Pivac, the new Wales coach will name for the Six Nations championship.
Ackermann said: “He has got pace and the ability to beat defenders if you put him in that space but there are areas he can improve.
“If you invited him now to a Wales camp you don’t have to play him, he would learn from the best of the best that would be a great experience for him. He will grow as he learns to deal with pressure in every game and as an 18-year-old you have so much to learn. Next week if he plays he will experience a Bath derby and that will be another step up and another part of the journey.
“He definitely has the ability (to play for Wales) if he keeps on learning.
“We are pleased with the way he is going and the biggest thing is for him not to get carried away and to keep working and learning. I can show him some things he needs to work on in the first half against Northampton! You are never on top of this game and it keeps you humble and credit to him. We pulled in some Academy guys pre-season and he was the one that grabbed the opportunity and trained well and learned well.
The 17-cap All Black fullback was evicted from the MCG on day three of the Black Caps’ test against Australia. https://t.co/EOFc22oCTd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 28, 2019
“The player embraced him and he has a great confidence in him and shows that when he gets the ball. “
Rees-Zammit’s tries could not get Gloucester over the winning line as Springbok No.9 Cobus Reinach scored two for Northampton and he the Gloucester boss added: “I am proud of the way the guys played in the second half but we only played for 40 minutes and to get two points is a great thing for us from this game.”
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