Louis Rees-Zammit produces try saver of the year but then loses all credibility
Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit was clearly fired up against Bristol Bears on Saturday at Kingsholm, and it showed after one epic tackle.
On 55 minutes, the Wales winger chased a kick by his side that had gone into touch. After Bristol fullback Charles Piutau had taken the ball in touch on the halfway line, Rees-Zammit started trying to grab the ball from the Tonga and All Blacks international. Piutau did not take that well and threw the ball at his opponent, before some pushing and shoving between the two.
Moments later, Piutau was tearing through the middle of the Gloucester defence and putting his flanker Dan Thomas in for what looked to be an easy try. But Rees-Zammit put on the afterburners, and with Thomas just feet away from the try line, he was able to grab hold of his compatriot and punch the ball out of his hands. It was a truly epic try saving tackle, when the try looked to be all but a certainty.
However, what happened after was very bizarre and very out of character. Rees-Zammit stood over the distraught Thomas, screaming in his face and then pushed him while he was lying there. It is understandable the 2021 British & Irish Lions tourist was pumped up after his altercation with Piutau, but this was not called for. To make matters worse, he then started an odd looking grappling exchange with Bristol’s Callum Sheedy, who is actually his Wales teammate.
This tackle proved to be crucial in the context of the match, as Gloucester came away 31-28 winners thanks to a late penalty from Adam Hastings.
Take a look:
An incredible play from Louis Rees-Zammit! 👏
How big could that prove to be?!#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/qax7h9lEb1
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 15, 2022
Gloucester XV
15. Santiago Carreras
14. Louis Rees-Zammit
13. Chris Harris
12. Giorgi Kveseladze
11. Jonny May
10. Adam Hastings
9. Ben Meehan
1. Val Rapava-Ruskin
2. Jack Singleton
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Freddie Clarke
5. Matias Alemanno
6. Jordy Reid
7. Lewis Ludlow (c)
8. Ruan Ackermann
Replacements
16. Santiago Socino
17. Harry Elrington
18. Ciaran Knight
19. Cam Jordan
20. Albert Tuisue
21. Stephen Varney
22. Jack Reeves
23. Lloyd Evans
Bristol Bears XV
15. Charles Piutau (67 apps), 14. Luke Morahan (102 apps), 13. Piers O’Conor (113 apps), 12. Sam Bedlow (52 apps), 11. Henry Purdy (43 apps); 10. Callum Sheedy (137 apps), 9. Tom Whiteley (9 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (27 apps), 2. Will Capon (65 apps), 3. Kyle Sinckler (37 apps), 4. Joe Batley (20 apps), 5. Joe Joyce (c) (156 apps), 6. Chris Vui (98 apps), 7. Dan Thomas (113 apps), 8. Fitz Harding (32 apps).
System players: 16. Harry Thacker (78 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (112 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (44 apps), 19. John Hawkins (39 apps), 20. Sam Lewis (2 apps), 21. Andy Uren (139 apps), 22. AJ MacGinty (5 apps), 23. Jack Bates (25 apps).
