Super Louis got a nation off their sofas and roaring
The sight of Jonathan Davies and Jeremy Guscott drooling over the performance of Louis ReesZammit in their post-match analysis on BBC said it all. It didn’t even need Jonathan to say, “a star is born” to emphasise how good he had been.
Two tries, an assist, a tackle that saved a try and a sublime banana kick at the end that sent Scotland scurrying back up field into their own 22. As an all-round display it was a tour de force from the young man. As a fellow wing, and one whose Welsh Six Nations record of six tries in a season is now under serious threat, I salute him.
It’s not bad, is it, scoring the match-winning try for your country on successive weekends. For me, he has showed he has the ability to do great things on the international stage just as he does so regularly for Gloucester in the Premiership.
After the last two weekends he can start thinking about pushing for a place in Warren Gatland’s British & Irish Lions squad, but let’s not over burden him with expectation. He has an excellent temperament to go with his natural ability, but just let him get on with his game.
It is going to be very interesting to see what Wayne Pivac does now when he picks his team to face England later this month. Josh Adams will be available for that match, so who does he drop? He cannot put Rees-Zammit on the bench after how he has performed, so does he drop Leigh Halfpenny and put Liam Williams to full back, or does he push him onto the bench?
Or maybe he starts Adams on the bench. At the moment, the No1 pick for the Wales back three has to be Rees-Zammit. The young man has been given his opportunity and he has grabbed it with both hands.
Both his tries showcased his talent. The first was a shift of weight, slight step and a clinical finish against Duhane van der Merwe. The second simply lifted a nation off their sofas.
It was a score that demonstrated a whole range of skills – pace, spatial awareness, kicking ability and a killer instinct. The way he used the touchline to help him, kicked in field and simply burned off the Scottish defenders, Stuart Hogg and all, was a sight to behold.
Next up ... England and his Gloucester clubmate Jonny May! That will be an interesting clash, especially if they get into an out an out foot race. I know where my money will be!
But enough of the very worthy man of the match, this was another performance built on defensive grit and real character. Yes, Wales have been fortunate to beat both Ireland and Scotland, but they’ve found a way to hit back from early deficits and have grown into both matches. They are a side that is finally moving in the right direction.
Pivac knows that had these two games gone against him, especially with both the Irish and Scots having a player sent off, the calls for his head would have reached a crescendo. That is how fickle the whole business of professional sport can be.
Wales are still not in a place where they can go into any game as favourites just yet. They are still very much work in progress, but the most important thing is they are progressing. Winning ugly, and against the odds, merely makes you stronger. It gives you something to believe in and rally around.
I can only see this team getting better and better as a consequence of these experiences. I just wish we could have a full house at Principality Stadium for the England game because it would be a bear pit!
It was an interesting call by the coach to change his halfbacks on 51 minutes. Not exactly a changing of the old guard, but a nod to the fact he is bringing through some new players of his own. And didn’t Kieran Hardy and Callum Sheedy do well when they came on.
With an injury free, full strength squad he would have some big selection choices to make and maybe the pain he had to go through last year when he blooded so many new faces is helping him now.
Strength in depth is being developed and a competitive squad brings out the best in everyone. Four tries and a bonus point are always good for morale, but the way Wales defended was another big boost. It was so good I think I even spotted my old teammate Gethin Jenkins smiling at the end of the game. His full time appointment as defence coach is proving to be a master stroke by Pivac.
The players have obviously reacted to him. They can clearly identify with who he is, what he has done for Wales and what he expects from them. They are starting to put their bodies on the line in the same way he did for his country in 129 internationals.
As a starting point for reviving the team’s fortunes his defensive mantra, built in much the same way as Shaun Edwards did during his time with Wales, is getting through. The Scots may have scored three times, but they were unable to find a way through when it mattered most and only one of their scores was down to poor defending.
It is going to be a long two weeks before England come to the Welsh capital. They are not in the greatest shape, or brimming with confidence, so it looks like being a 50-50 game at the moment. Just imagine if Wales could go three from three!
A few less injuries would help, but confidence in the Welsh camp is growing and the belief is building. Bring on the chariot – it could be heading home minus a few wheels!
“Josh Adams will be available for England, so who does Wayne Pvac drop?”