GRAND ZAMM

Flier Rees-Zammit unfazed by playing in front of Wales fans for the first time... he’s just desperate to put on a show of his electrifying skills and pace

LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT has a bold message for Wales fans ahead of his first time playing in front of them on Saturday.

The young wing built a red-hot reputation with a storming first year in international rugby.

His tries powered the Dragons to Six Nations glory and earned him Lions tour selection before his 21st birthday.

But five touchdowns in nine appearances, plus all three in his four Lions outings, came in empty grounds. A 74,000 Principality Stadium sell-out is an altogether different matter, particularly when the opposition is South Africa.

Just don’t expect that to faze the Gloucester star.

“I want everyone to be excited when I get the ball,” said the 20-year-old. “I want to try to put on a show, to make everyone happy.

“I don’t really feel much pressure. I got myself into this job and I just love it. Playing in front of supporters is my dream. The boys tell me it’s the best thing ever to play in a full Principality.”

Rees-Zammit was drawn to rugby as a kid by watching Wales’ record try scorer Shane Williams.

“He was so exciting whenever he got the ball,” he recalled. “He’s why I play the game. Like him, I want to excite people, do something whenever I get the ball.” This may be wishful thinking by a young man yet to come up against one of rugby’s southern hemisphere superpowers, let alone the world champions.

In his absence Wales were hit for a half century by New Zealand and have since lost captain Alun Wyn Jones and Ross Moriarty to a growing injury list. Rees-Zammit (below) is still at a time of life where he believes anything is possible. But he is no fool and has taken steps to protect himself for when the wheel of fortune does turn, on and off the field.

Last week he became patron of Sporting Minds UK, a charity with a mission to raise awareness and provide support to enable positive mental health in young sports people. “Luckily I’ve had mainly positive experiences so far,” he said. “People haven’t been having a go at me.

“But we’re at a moment in time where athletes at the top of their game, like Ben Stokes, are admitting to struggling with their mental health.

“That is life now. I’m sure I will have a few bad games in future and the pressure will be piled on.

“Everyone has a phone, Twitter, Instagram.

“All it takes is for one person to post something mean about you.

“Social media puts a lot of pressure on athletes.

“If athletes right at the top are struggling, it tells you something.”

Wales will need the nation fully behind them this weekend.

Since inflicting World Cup heartbreak on them in their last meeting, South Africa have beaten both the Lions and the All Blacks.

Sporting Minds UK is a registered charity that provides and promotes mental health support to young sports people. For more information or to access the free, confidential one-to-one support, go to www.sportingmindsuk.org