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Video: Rees-Zammit starts 2021 with electric try just days after Ian McGeechan name-checks him as Lions tour bolter
By Liam Heagney
Potential Lions bolter Louis Rees-Zammit started the 2021 tour year with an excellently-taken try to help Gloucester take a 16-9 lead with them into the interval in their Saturday evening Gallagher Premiership game at home to Sale, a match the hosts went on to agonisingly lose 19-22 following a late Josh Beaumont score.
The recent new Wales cap was name-checked this week as one of the exciting young players Ian McGeechan would like to see involved in next July's Lions tour to South Africa. His glowing appraisal of the 19-year-old read: “There is no substitute for pace, but this potential bolter also glides past would-be tacklers without pausing for breath. Used properly he could wreak havoc, although he is prone to worrying defensive lapses.”
Ireland's Caelan Doris and England's Ollie Lawrence were other names suggested by McGeechan, the 2009 and 1997 Lions coach in South Africa, to look out for as momentum builds towards the much-anticipated selection by Warren Gatland of his 2021 squad.
There was fresh doubt on Saturday about the viability of the Lions' trip going ahead, CEO Ben Calveley admitting that a definitive decision will have to be taken by the end of February on whether the three-Test, eight-game tour can proceed despite the worsening toll the pandemic is taking in South Africa.
However, that developing concern didn't deter Rees-Zammit from putting his hand up for selection as he pounced on 33 minutes at Kingsholm after Gloucester worked maul possession from one side of the pitch to the other around the halfway line and then allowed the winger to race in from the 22 to score.
"What a wonderful try," chirped former England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio, who was commentating on the game for BT Sport. "You have got to give credit to Lloyd Evans, he just delays that pass, beautifully weighted and once they find the connection with Rees-Zammit it's goodnight. He has got so much pace on the outside, a really lovely try."
"This was beautiful to watch," added match presenter Martin Bayfield at half-time, a description followed by Ugo Monye's take on the try. "It was lovely... it's the timing of this pass from Lloyd Evans and Chris Harris just doing his best to link up with Rees-Zammit. The moment he got that ball, everyone knew it was a try. I knew it was a try, Sale Sharks knew it was a try. That guy is absolutely electric. The quickest guy across the squad... the boy knows how to score."
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Smith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
Go to commentsWhich Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ?
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