Rees-Zammit proves star of the show as Gloucester earn shot at qualifying
Eddie Jones, the England head coach, was believed to be here to look over some Six Nations possibilities.
However, the man who stood out as Gloucester gave themselves a shot at Heineken European Champions Cup knockout qualification next weekend is beyond the England supremo’s grasp.
Teenage wing Louis Rees-Zammit has blasted his way on to the senior rugby scene in England this season as the Premiership’s Player of the Month for December, and now in Europe as he scored one try and laid on another of Gloucester’s four against Montpellier.
Wales are to announce their Six Nations Championship squad on Wednesday and there is plenty of debate over whether new national coach Wayne Pivac should give the 18-year-old from Cardiff a chance. Gloucester attack coach Tim Taylor believes he would not let his country down. Taylor said: “He is a very confident young lad, but he is grounded. It is a challenge I am sure he will take and look forward to if he gets an opportunity.”
The four-try, bonus-point victory means Gloucester are on 14 points in Pool 5 with one game left – away at unbeaten group leaders Toulouse on Sunday. They are tied on points with Pool 4 second-placed Saracens, with Northampton chasing both down, while Ulster seem certainties for runner-up qualification.
Rees-Zammit set up wing Ollie Thorley for a try in the opening minutes, only for it to be ruled out for a forward pass. He repeated the same break through the middle of the Montpellier defence to set up captain Willi Heinz for the Cherry and Whites’ real first try just before half-time.
And, after the break, a long pass out wide from replacement fly-half Owen
Williams, on for ex-England stand-off Danny Cipriani – who went off after 12 minutes with a leg injury and will be assessed on Monday – saw the Welsh wonder race home into the corner.
Former England No 8 Ben Morgan wrestled the ball over the Montpellier line for Gloucester’s third, while hooker Todd Gleave did the same for the bonus-point touchdown.
Centre Billy Twelvetrees struck over a penalty and three conversions, while all Montpellier could muster was a penalty in each half from Frans Steyn.
Now it is off to Toulouse with all to play for. Taylor added: “It will be a massive opportunity for us and it is credit to the boys for putting us in this position. It is a really tough place.”