What a week New Lion LRZ on song with try double
LOUIS Rees-zammit marked his selection in the Lions squad by scoring two tries as Gloucester dented Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership play-off hopes with a 31-7 victory at Franklin’s Gardens.
The 20-year old Wales wing, the youngest player in the 37-strong squad for the three-test series in South Africa, and the youngest selection since 1959 was playing in front of the Lions head coach Warren Gatland but said that all he was thinking about was helping Gloucester clinch a spot in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup.
“It has been an outstanding week for me,” said Rees-zammit, who doubled his Premiership try tally for the season.
“Being picked by the Lions did not really sink in until that night when I had dinner with my brother and my parents on their 26th wedding anniversary.
“I had messages from everyone I know, and more, and I cannot thank enough everyone who has helped me, but my focus is playing my part for Gloucester in the final four matches of the season and getting into the top eight. I am not someone who gets ahead of himself and the players here keep me humble.”
Gloucester had won only one Premiership match away from Kingsholm all season, and that by a point at Wasps, but from the moment Rees-zammit scored his first try after 14 minutes they were in control against a Northampton side which failed to fire a shot.
“We have been looking for a performance to be proud of and this was it,” said Rees-zammit.
“It has not always gone for us this season but we are a tight-knit group. I may have scored two tries, but others created the chances for me and then it was up to me to do my bit.”
On Rees-zammit’s selection, Gatland insisted he was not the finished article.
“It’s pretty exciting for him and I think it’s his try-scoring ability and his finishing [that caught the eye].
“I don’t think he’s the finished article and we’ve seen him improve during the Six Nations.
“That’s what is exciting about him as a youngster. We think that going on tour, being around the best players in Britain and Ireland, then he’s going to continue to develop and get better.
“There’s a huge amount of potential. That’s what is exciting about someone like that so we’re looking forward to having the opportunity to work with him.
“We want to see him come on in a position where there are lots of options and strength in depth.”
Dan Biggar suffered a concussion in the opening quarter and lasted 19 minutes before hitting his head on the shoulder of Billy Twelvetrees as the pair scrambled for a loose ball.
His departure forced Northampton into a reshuffle behind with George Furbank moving to 10, Tommy Freeman taking over at full-back and Taqele Naiyaravoro coming off the bench onto the wing.
The Saints were already 10 points down. Twelvetrees kicked an early penalty before Gloucester fashioned the best move of the afternoon after kicking a penalty to touch.
They set up one phase after the lineout near halfway and centre Mark Atkinson looked outside before passing inside to the wing Santiago Carreras.
The Argentinian ran towards the
home 22 and as the defence desperately scrambled back, he freed Reeszammit and he left Furbank clutching air.
Whatever was said at half-time in the Northampton changing room made no difference. Furbank’s kick-off went out of play on the full and the Saints were penalised at the subsequent scrum.
Penned deep in their own half, Furbank attempted a chip into space but it bounced kindly for the Gloucester flanker Jordy Reid and two passes later Ed Slater scored.
Gloucester had only won one of their previous 11 away Premiership matches, but Northampton’s recent home record was little better, three wins in 13.
A Twelvetrees penalty and a Jack Singleton try made it comfortable for the visitors before Rees-zammit’s try garnished the victory with a bonus point.
Proctor’s nudge into the face of Reeszammit after the try sparked a brawl which left Piers Francis and Carreras with a walk to the sin-bin.
Tom Seabrook quickly followed for a deliberate knock-on seconds after coming on and Henry Taylor’s try ensured the Saints did not fail to score at home in the Premiership for the first time.