Paris match could finally mark Louis’s long-awaited Wales debut
IT is looking increasingly likely that the moment a lot of Welsh rugby fans have been waiting for will arrive at some point on Saturday evening in Paris.
Teenage winger Louis Rees-zammit now seems odds on to make his Test debut during the opening autumn international against France.
With Liam Williams and Jonah Holmes having been released to the Scarlets and Dragons respectively to get some game-time this weekend, Wales are down to four back-three men to choose from.
Those are Leigh Halfpenny, Josh Adams, George North and Rees-zammit.
The 19-year-old Ioan Lloyd is also coming on board, with Bristol no longer on stand-by to play in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership final.
But, realistically, he’s not in contention, being a newbie who hasn’t yet trained with the squad.
So, it comes down to the four mentioned, with three of them starting and the other probably providing back three cover on the bench.
All of which points to Gloucester’s Rees-zammit being part of the matchday 23.
The only way that wouldn’t happen is if Wayne Pivac went for a centre, such as Owen Watkin, as the outside back among the replacements, with Rhys Patchell able to slot in at fullback amid a reshuffle. But the likeliest outcome would seem to be a specialist back-three man among the subs, as North could cover centre.
The question then is whether ReesZammit starts or waits his turn among the subs.
Leigh Halfpenny is nailed on to start at full-back, with Josh Adams on one wing. Normally, you would expect the 95-cap North to complete the trio, but the caveat there is he hasn’t played since August 23 following his sending off against the Dragons and a subsequent four-match ban.
It means he has had just 15 minutes of rugby in the past seven months, so we wait to see how Wales look to utilise him. Either way, the strong likelihood is Rees-zammit will be involved in the game and win his first cap.
That’s a moment a lot of people have been eagerly anticipating, such is the impact the young man has made over the past year.
He’s lit up English rugby with his try scoring and electrifying running, touching down 13 times in his first 18 games for Gloucester.
Just a couple of weeks ago, he was named the Young Player of the Year in the Rugby Players Association awards, following a ballot of his fellow pros.
His scintillating form saw him included in Wales’ Six Nations squad at the beginning of the year, but he didn’t get an opportunity during the truncated tournament.
But the 19-year-old’s big moment might soon be upon us.
He’s certainly made a good impression in training, based on the comments from kicking coach Neil Jenkins, who says the focus has been on developing his all-round game.
“He is still young and obviously has got an awful lot to learn,” said the former fly-half.
“But he’s doing very well at this moment in time. We are really impressed with him in training. He’s been working hard.
“It’s not just about scoring tries, it’s about his back-field play, his aerial game, chasing kicks, that sort of stuff when you haven’t got the ball. That’s the stuff we’ve been working on with him more.
“He’s played some good rugby before he’s come in and he’s trained very well. He’s been good for us.”
The Cardiff born-and-bred ReesZammit, who played his junior rugby for Llandaff and Rumney, has also added another string to his bow.
He’s had a couple of outings for Gloucester at full-back, showing a versatility that could make him even more of an asset within the matchday 23.
Speaking to Walesonline back in August, the youngster admitted it had been “tough to take” to miss out during the Six Nations and said: “I definitely want a couple of caps this autumn.
“It would feel very surreal if it did happen, but hopefully I would thrive and take my chance.”