TEEN TRY MACHINE READY FOR BIG TIME
WALES PICK REES-ZAMMIT FOR SIX NATIONS DEBUT
TEEN ace Louis ReesZammit can have an instant impact for Wales in the Six Nations according to new coach Wayne Pivac, who included the 18-year-old as one of five uncapped players in his squad.
The Gloucester wing, who has ripped up the Premiership, scoring nine times in 10 games this season, was selected for the first time yesterday. And he could make his Test debut the day before his 19th birthday against Italy at the Principality Stadium next month as Pivac said he is not just a token pick for the Championship.
Asked about Cardiff-born ReesZammit’s chances, New Zealander Pivac compared him to an All Black great. ‘John Kirwan had not played a senior club game before he played for Auckland,’ he said of the 1987 World Cup-winner.
‘The great players can step up. If you’re good enough you’re old enough and he’s showing signs he’s maturing as a rugby player at a very young age. He’s got gas, which at the top level of the game you can’t beat, and he’s a great finisher. He’s not the finished product but we believe he’s got a big future in the game. Will we select him in the first game?
Time will tell. Certainly he’ll be discussed.’
Rees-Zammit, who signed his first senior contract this week which means he can play for Wales and remain at Gloucester, had been contacted by Eddie Jones who asked if he would play for England.
But Pivac was confident where the wing’s allegiance lay and added that approach did not force his hand. ‘You only have to look at his social media page, he’s got a big Welsh flag there,’ said Pivac. ‘He’s Welsh through and through.’
Two former England Under 20 World Cup winners could make Test debuts for Wales and Ireland this tournament.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell picked fly-half Billy Burns, who moved from Gloucester to Ulster when his path was blocked at home.
And Pivac selected Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, who played outside Burns for England in the 2014 Junior World Championshipwinning side.
Tompkins is one of 10 Englishbased Wales picks alongside Wasps lock Will Rowlands. As Sportsmail reported yesterday, Tompkins qualifies through his Welsh grandmother. Rowlands’ father is Welsh, and both have been on Pivac’s radar for a while.
Pivac said of Tompkins: ‘I took notice when he carved the Scarlets up in the Champions Cup when he was about 20. I found out he was eligible afterwards.
‘I’ve been watching his career ever since. He’s gone very well. We’ve had a lot of contact with him. He was very forthright and passionate about his rugby and what he wants to achieve and what jersey he wants to wear.
‘ Tompkins has been on the Scarlets’ radar for some time, as has Rowlands. I’ve approached him and his agent twice before as a Scarlets coach and so know a lot about him. It’s not just based on a couple of games this season.’
Scrum-half Rhys Webb is back for Wales too, along with Taulupe Faletau, Rob Evans, Leon Brown, Owen Williams and Jarrod Evans, who all missed the World Cup. Webb was declared available despite playing in Toulon as he is returning to Ospreys in the summer. Kiwi-born wing Johnny McNicholl could also make a full debut.
Saracens prop Rhys Carre will miss Wales’ opener against Italy after being handed a three-week ban for a dangerous tackle. Carre was sent off in the Champions Cup against Ospreys last Saturday.
Meanwhile, Ireland named Johnny Sexton as captain and Scotland boss Gregor Townsend gave Stuart Hogg the armband.
Townsend criticised the Premiership for playing so close to Scotland’s opener in Dublin, which meant he did not pick Saracens’ Duncan Taylor. ‘It is ridiculous the Premiership have got a game six days before we play,’ he said. GLOUCESTER fly-half Danny Cipriani has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a torn calf.
Coach Johan Ackermann said: ‘It’s not nice to lose any player to injury — especially a quality player like Danny.’
The injury ends any slim chance Cipriani, 32, had of an England call-up for the Six Nations.