Louis Rees-Zammit has been a shining light throughout this year’s Championship and the Welshman’s latest electric display proved enough to earn him a spot on the wing in the Fantasy Rugby Team of the Week, with more points than any other player in Round 4.
The majority of the 157 metres made by the 20-year-old came in the space of around 10 seconds, as Rees-Zammit intercepted a loose Italian pass and sprinted home from just outside his own 22 to dot down his fourth try of the campaign.
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Defensive duties were not shirked, either, with five tackles at the Stadio Olimpico helping the Gloucester man to an overall score of 105.6 points, making him the only player to top three figures in Round 4.
Rees-Zammit is joined by three of his Wales teammates in the Fantasy Team of the Week following another dominant display from Wayne Pivac’s side.
Josh Adams scored the first of Wales’ seven tries in Rome and lines up on the opposite flank to his teammate courtesy of a score of 92.8 points, helped by his 101 metres made from nine carries.
Ken Owens takes the hooker vacancy having found international tries to be like London buses. Owens last crossed for his country in 2016 but dotted down twice in the space of nine minutes to secure his side a bonus point – and help himself to 76.6 points.
Completing the Welsh quartet is Josh Navidi, who picked up the Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match award following an all-action display.
A game-high 23 tackles took the flanker’s tally to 60 for the Championship, level with Taulupe Faletau and behind only Justin Tipuric as the Welsh back-rowers continue to set the standard.
Joining Navidi in the back-row this week are two players who were on opposing sides at BT Murrayfield, Hamish Watson and CJ Stander.
Watson scored a try, made 13 carries and crunched into 15 tackles to earn 58.9 points while Stander was hot on his heels with 57.4 after gaining 93 metres from his 17 carries.
Stander’s teammate for club and country, Tadhg Beirne, continued his fine form with a Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match display in Edinburgh and makes the Fantasy Team of the Week with 61 points – a tally helped in no small part by his try and two vital turnover wins.
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He is partnered in the second row by England’s late matchwinner against France, Maro Itoje, while Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola also make this week’s selection after influential displays at Twickenham.
Antoine Dupont got a thrilling contest up and running with a try inside 80 seconds and the French scrum-half’s tally of 33.9 points gets him into the Fantasy Team of the Week.
His half-back partner is Johnny Sexton, who held his nerve to kick Ireland to victory over Scotland and picked up 49.8 points following an exemplary display off the tee.
Owen Farrell, who kicked two conversions and three penalties in England’s Round 4 triumph as well as making 11 tackles, takes the No.12 jersey after his 51.3-point haul and Ireland try-scorer Robbie Henshaw joins him in midfield.
And between the two Welsh wings is France full-back Brice Dulin, who excelled in a losing cause at Twickenham. The full-back gained 79 metres from 11 carries and put his boot to good use, making 224 metres with his kicks, to finish with 35.2 points.
Round 4 Fantasy Team of the Week
1 – Mako Vunipola (England) – 27.4 pts 2 – Ken Owens (Wales) – 76.6 pts 3 – Kyle Sinckler (England) – 25.8 pts 4 – Maro Itoje (England) – 46.6 pts 5 – Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) – 61.0 pts 6 – Josh Navidi (Wales) – 84.3 pts 7 – Hamish Watson (Scotland) – 58.9 pts 8 – CJ Stander (Ireland) – 57.4 pts 9 – Antoine Dupont (France) – 33.9 pts 10 – Johnny Sexton (Ireland) – 49.8 pts 11 – Josh Adams (Wales) – 92.8 pts 12 – Owen Farrell (England) – 51.3 pts 13 – Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) – 62.3 pts 14 – Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales) – 105.6 pts – BEST PLAYER 15 – Brice Dulin (France) – 35.2 pts
