It has been a whirlwind few weeks for Wales international Louis Rees-Zammit, who started the Six Nations tournament as one-to-watch and was touted as a contender for the tournament’s top try-scorer.
Fast forward to Wednesday this week, and the 21-year-old finds himself back at Gloucester with his club side preparing for their Premiership clash with Leicester on Saturday.
So, what has happened to the 11-cap Welsh winger that has seen him excluded from the national side?
Our Rugby correspondent Sam Rhymes takes a closer look
It’s been quite the start to the career of Welsh-sensation Louis Rees-Zammit, with the winger taking the Gallagher Premiership by storm with his club side Gloucester, quickly asserting himself as a fans favourite at Kingsholm.
Since his Premiership debut in 2019, the speedster has notched up 17 tries in his 27 appearances for the Cherry and Whites.
His electric try-scoring record earned him a historic call up for the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa last summer, where he featured in three of the warm-up matches, scoring two tries in the process.
Since then it has not all been plain sailing for the Gloucester starlet, with form hard to come by for both club and country, culminating in the 21-year-old being dropped from the Wales squad to face England in the Six Nations clash at Twickenham this weekend.
Louis Rees-Zammit ➡️ OUT
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 23, 2022
IN ⬅️ Josh Adams
The Welsh left wing has been replaced ahead of Saturday’s game at Twickenham after struggling to impose himself in the first two games of the Six Nations.#BBCRugby
Although Welsh Head Coach Wayne Pivac has overlooked Rees-Zammit for the crunch match on Saturday, the winger will still be in action for club side Gloucester as they travel to league leaders, Leicester Tigers, in a crucial Premiership showdown.
After a tough recent run of form, could this weekend be the catalyst for the 2021 world breakthrough player of the year nominee to re-ignite his season?
It’s tight at the top
With all eyes on the English capital come Saturday afternoon, Rees-Zammit himself will be focused on trying to topple the runaway League leaders at their home ground, where they are yet to lose this campaign.
Tigers are 11 points clear at the top of the table, with a home semi-final looking something of a formality for Steve Borthwick’s men, while the Gloucester side face a different challenge altogether.
They currently sit fourth, in the final play-off spot, but they are in a very congested position, with the teams either side of them within one win of the Cherries.
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Every game is vital for the play-off chasers, and Rees-Zammit will have an instrumental part to play in the remainder of their season.
The speedster will be facing off against the likes of Fijian giant Nemani Nadolo and the in-form Aussie Harry Potter, whilst still trying to dazzle the Tigers defence when he gets his hands on the ball.
Here are the areas that the Welsh wonderkid could influence Saturday’s game:
Brain vs Brawn
At 6ft 5in and 137kg, Nadolo is one of the most destructive wingers in the Premiership, so the pressure on Rees-Zammit’s defence will be higher than ever come the weekend.
The Gloucester winger never shirks a physical battle, but will have to be at his best if he is to keep the giant away from the action.
If the Cherry and White’s can get the ball into his hands in space however, there is little hope of the Tigers’ defence catching the flyer once he gets going, therefore it is vital the visitors play to their strengths and get Rees-Zammit running at Nadolo and do not get into an arm wrestle at Welford Road.
The Ariel battle
With Adam Hastings being overlooked by Scotland for the Six Nations also, George Skivington has one of the best kicking fly-halves in the league at his disposal on Saturday, so his link-up with Rees-Zammit could go a long way in deciding the outcome of this contest.
The Scotsman will have to kick in a disciplined fashion, but Rees-Zammit’s quality in the air could give his side a route into the game.
Against a side in Leicester who generally are very well disciplined, the territory battle is going to be vital, therefore Gloucester must find a way to impose themselves, and Rees-Zammit, on the table toppers.
This may not only be the most important match for Gloucester so far this season, but it may also be a defining weekend in the career of Rees-Zammit.
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If all goes well, this could be the launchpad the youngster needs to start terrorising Premiership defences again, whilst forcing the hand of national coach Pivac and make his case to make a swift return into a Welsh shirt.
Regardless of the result however, there is unlimited potential to be unearthed from the rising star.
