Louis will keep on playing to entertain

LOUIS Rees-Zammit admits he’s disappointed to miss out on the upcoming Test with New Zealand, but insists there’s more to come from him in a Wales shirt.

The 20-year-old is set unavailable for the upcoming clash with the All Blacks due to commitments with Premiership side Gloucester, but will potentially be available for the rest of his country’s Autumn campaign.

Speaking to BBC’s Scrum V, the winger said: “That’s the game [New Zealand] you want to play in as a kid growing up. But unfortunately, I won’t be able to play.

“But there’s three big Tests after that and hopefully I’ll impress the coaches and try and get my name on the teamsheet.”

It’s been a whirlwind 12 months for Rees-Zammit, but he insists there’s plenty more to come.

“The World Cup is definitely one,” he replied when asked about his career goals. “Growing up that’s what you watch and dream of playing in. I’ve still got loads left to be honest. I’ve only played nine times for my country and I haven’t played a Lions Test, so there’s a lot more to come.

“I’ve got high expectations for myself. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do things and score tries. I want to be the player that people want to watch and get excited about.

“Shane Williams when I was growing up, I watched him and George and everyone and they were playing really well and exciting the crowd, so that’s what I want to do.”

■ THE United States cannot be taken seriously as a contender to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

That’s the view of Stuart Barnes, who believes the New Zealand’s 104-14 demolition of the Eagles should keep any American ambitions of hosting rugby’s biggest tournament in check.

Writing in his column for The Times, Barnes said: “Lessons to be learned from the All Blacks demolition of the USA in Washington on Saturday: The States cannot be taken seriously as potential hosts for the 2031 World Cup.

“It seems a long way off but the point was reiterated in dramatic fashion in front of 40,000 rugby fans in Washington. The Eagles are not even a second-tier rugby nation.

“Admittedly not at full strength when beaten by Uruguay in a recent World Cup qualifier, for 2023, the USA have to beat Chile to qualify for Paris, a place in Pool D with England, Japan, Argentina and Samoa. Victory is anything but assured. The sport is always looking for the next cheque but at this moment a tournament in the USA would be an insult to Rugby World Cup wrapped up in the guise of a developmental tool for American rugby.”