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Why Rees-Zammit checked the big screen after his sensational try

Louis Rees-Zammit scores his sides second try despite Tadhg Furlong 7/2/2021
Louis Rees-Zammit admitted even he had to watch the replay after marking his Guinness Six Nations debut with a sensational match-winning try against Ireland.

Louis Rees-Zammit admitted even he had to watch the replay after marking his Guinness Six Nations debut with a sensational match-winning try against Ireland.

Wales looked to be in trouble at half time in Cardiff as they went into the break trailing Ireland 13-6 despite the visitors being reduced to 14 men after Peter O’Mahony saw red.

But George North’s try after the restart closed the gap before 20-year-old Rees-Zammit showed his speed and power to dive over in the corner under pressure from Tadhg Furlong.

Second-half comeback sees Wales edge past Ireland in Cardiff

Rees-Zammit just managed to get the ball down before being bundled out of play and while he was confident he had done enough, he revealed he did have a glance at the big screen.

“It felt really good to score,” the Gloucester Rugby winger said.

“It would have been a lot better with 75,000 people here [at Principality Stadium], but it’s always good to score for your country and thankfully we got the win as well

“I wasn’t sure I had scored. I had to look at the big screen to check. We needed to try to put a good performance in. It wasn’t the best, but to get the four points was really good.”

Press Conference: Wayne Pivac and Alun Wyn Jones

While Rees-Zammit was making his Championship bow in Cardiff, the thrilling contest against Ireland was his fifth cap for the country since earning his debut during the autumn.

He featured in a backline that included the experience of Leigh Halfpenny and fellow try-scorer North, who now has 99 caps for Wales and three for the British & Irish Lions.

And Rees-Zammit believes his game will only improve from having North alongside him.

“It’s always good playing with someone who had over 100 caps,” he said. “George is a great player, and he can obviously play wing, he can play 13 so it’s great to play outside of him.

“We both scored which was a bonus. It was very nerve-racking, thankfully we got over the line in the end, but the last five minutes were very tough.

“It was a great shift from the boys, and we will bring good momentum and confidence into going up to BT Murrayfield next week. Hopefully we can do a job up there.”