Ackermann's verdict on Welsh teen sensation
PREMIERSHIP REACTION: Louis Rees-Zammit is the latest name to light up the domestic stage.
Not surprising, after his two-try blitz in a 36-3 win for a resurgent Gloucester over the Worcester Warriors in a crucial Premiership match, the teenage sensation is tipped as a possible Welsh star.
Gloucester coach Johan Ackermann struck a cautious tone when he gave his verdict on the player that holds the record as the youngest man to play for Gloucester in the Premiership and European Cup competitions.
The Cardiff-born player, nicknamed ‘Speedy’, has been touted as a ‘must’ for new Welsh coach Wayne Pivac’s Six Nations squad next year.
The Wales Under-18 international, who came through Gloucester’s age-group system into the club’s senior academy, has recorded the fastest sprint times in training.
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“International rugby is a big step up,” Ackermann told a post-match media briefing, after Friday’s Premiership outing.
“The best of the best play there, and time will tell,” the Gloucester coach added.
“The first thing is for him to play well for Gloucester, and if he does get invited into the Wales group, they will compare him with what they have and then he has to prove himself.
“He has definitely got the skill, but in international rugby everything is faster.
“He is good enough. He has got size, he’s a young guy and he has got the mental toughness. It’s just to get the formula right and the pathway right for him.
“I think it’s great for him where he is in his career. He is young and playing good rugby.
“When you play a young player, you see a lot of good things in training and you hope he can transfer that onto the playing field.
“I didn’t think he had all the opportunities in his first few games, and people didn’t really see why we played him, but in the last two weeks he has started showing some of those things when he gets space.
“He is a confident guy. When you speak to him he is up to the challenge, he is engaging with his conversations and he has the confidence to try things on the field, and that’s what you need at this level.”
Gloucester climbed to third place in the Premiership, after sinking Worcester – following a second-half scoring burst.
It took a frustratingly long time to break down a persistent Warriors side, but Gloucester finally found their groove at Kingsholm and ran out comfortable winners.
The Rees-Zammit double apart, centre Chris Harris, flank Ruan Ackermann and No.8 Ben Morgan also touched down, with Danny Cipriani adding four conversions and a penalty to give Gloucester their first league victory since they defeated Wasps in late October.
“We would have taken any result,” Ackermann added.
“The fact we got the five points is a plus. It was a tough game.
“You must work really hard to get your points against them (Worcester). Although it was 3-3 at half-time, we felt if we could be a bit more accurate, it would come.”
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