With two tries on the road and a Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match award at 20 years of age – it’s little wonder rugby is waxing lyrical about Louis Rees-Zammit.
The Welsh wing wizard finished neatly in the first half and then did all the work himself with a superb chip and chase after the break, his double salvo vital in a 25-24 win away to a resurgent Scotland.
Few have doubted the speedster’s talent but he also displayed his nous in spectacular fashion to help Wales to a second victory of the Championship, showing composure to assist Liam Williams between his own two scores.
Rees-Zammit inspires Wales to memorable comeback at 14-man Scotland
It’s no surprise that those in the know are expecting plenty more, with BBC Sport pundits Jonathan Davies, Jeremy Guscott and John Barclay among those in the Rees-Zammit fanbase.
“I think a star was born today. He’s played himself onto a British & Irish Lions Tour,” said Davies, who played 37 times for Wales.
England Grand Slam winner Guscott added: “The brilliance of Louis Rees-Zammit, he’s innocent and just wants the ball in his hands to show the world, his teammates and us what he can do.
“To see that pure pace, the skill and the touch at that pace is just wonderful to watch.
“His interview afterwards was brilliant, he’s living the dream and it’s wonderful to see.”
Even with 14 men, Scotland have given themselves a resolute edge in both attack and defence and held a pivotal lead with 15 minutes to play.
It needed something special to break them down and Rees-Zammit duly delivered, with vision and execution working hand to hand with his exquisite chip and chase.
“He looks as if he’s gliding. I know his mum and dad quite well, and when he scores that second try, they are hitting the ceiling,” said Davies.
“It was just class. The acceleration and the chip, just brilliant.”
While Guscott commented: “It’s pure speed, it’s absolutely excellent. To execute that kick, running at that pace, to have such touch was absolutely beautiful.
“You can get too eager as a young player when you see it all in front of you.
“When he spoke afterwards, he was telling about how he thought it all through and it was brilliant.”
And as former Scotland captain Barclay can attest, it’s not as if the flyer had two forwards to chase down to finish the opportunity…
“Louis Rees-Zammit was outstanding,” he said. “He’s against Duhan [van der Merwe], the quickest guy I’ve played with, and Stuart Hogg.
“It’s about the control to kick it at that speed, and the way he drops the ball and makes sure it bounces the way he wants it. Everything he wanted came off.”
But Rees-Zammit’s game was not just about the two tries he scored.
Cutting an assured figure in the back three, he dared to move more centrally to offer variety to the attack and it paid off in some style, finding Williams to help Wales get back into the game.
“As a young player, you know your plays and you might stay on your wing and wait for the ball to come to you,” said Barclay.
“There’s a guy not affected by playing international rugby, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s called that play there, he’s roaming and he wants the ball.
“That’s the kind of winger I want to play with, guys who want the ball.”
Rees-Zammit stars in Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match display
There was even a chance for some strong defensive work, with a kick finding touch in opposition territory helping relieve some of the late pressure Scotland were piling on.
But while the sky is the limit for the gifted 20-year-old, compatriot Davies doesn’t want his head to be in the clouds just yet.
“I think it was a slice!”
Rees-Zammit was still a teenager when this month started.
But when you’re good enough, you’re old enough – and three tries in two appearances in this year’s Championship are certainly testament to that.
