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Video: Rees-Zammit starts 2021 with electric try just days after Ian McGeechan name-checks him as Lions tour bolter
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.
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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.
This delayed pass from Lloyd Evans is PERFECTION! ?
And let's be honest, there's no catching Louis Rees-Zammit ??
High quality from @gloucesterrugby! ?#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/i4ZPArCYUA
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 2, 2021
“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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Plenty of food for thought as we head into 2021#LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/iKvctQ8FMc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 29, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Adding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
2 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
2 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to comments