Premier Sports presenter Ross Harries believes Louis Rees-Zammit is the main reason for Wales’ success in the Six Nations so far this year.
The 20-year-old scored decisive tries in their wins over Scotland and Ireland and also played the full 80 minutes in the 40-24 success against England.
On Rees-Zammit, Harries said: “I can’t remember, maybe since George North, someone that young coming to Test rugby and looking that comfortable.
“Perhaps the lack of crowds has been a factor because the nerves might not be jangling as much as they would when you’re running out in front of 75,000 people.”
Wales have already secured the Triple Crown in this year’s Six Nations and take on Italy on Saturday as Wayne Pivac’s side look to move within touching distance of a second Grand Slam in three years.
Harries praised Rees-Zammit for the way he has thrived in the big moments. He said: “It’s remarkable to think that had Josh Adams not been suspended for those first two games, Louis Rees-Zammit wouldn’t have started in all likelihood.
“Perhaps we wouldn’t have been looking at a Triple Crown in that case because he scored the winning try in both the Scotland and Ireland games.
“The sheer zest that he’s approached international rugby with, he’s Player of the Tournament.”
Wales have been a different team in 2021 compared to the one that struggled in the Autumn Nations Cup, losing two of their three games.
However, Harries always had belief in the team. He said: “During the autumn, I wasn’t anywhere near as pessimistic as a lot of people were when things didn’t appear to be going Wales’ way.
“Although I’d have preferred a few more wins, I was confident that it would come. If you’d have said to me Wales would’ve won a Triple Crown three weeks in and put 40 points on England, I would’ve thought you’d have been drinking.”
Despite some controversial decisions by the officials in that England game, Harries was still buzzing from the performance.
“The England game was unbelievable. I was glad from a Wales perspective that the winning margin was more than the value of those two disputed tries because otherwise it could’ve been a little less satisfactory.
“I thought that Wales would come good, perhaps not quite as early as they did.”
Rees-Zammit is set to start against the Italians as Wales made two changes with Cory Hill and Gareth Davies coming into the side.
Italy have conceded at least 40 points in all of their three outings so far.
Elsewhere, this weekend, Wales’ fellow Grand Slam contenders France go to Twickenham, while Scotland host Ireland.
