Louis Rees-Zammit was once again grabbing headlines all over the national press after scorching the artificial turf at Kingsholm on the opening weekend of the Gallagher Premiership season.
The Welsh flier kicked off the campaign in style with a stunning solo effort from deep inside his own 22, burning off the covering Wasps defence to kick start the biggest comeback the Cherry and Whites have ever accomplished in the Premiership. They were 21-0 down at half time but went on to win 27-21 in front of their own fans.
Rees-Zammit's effort, though, was the highlight and has been made even more impressive now that it has been revealed that one of his boots was broken and he was struggling with a back issue. Pictures show the laces on his left boot had snapped as Rees-Zammit surged away from deep inside his own half.
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The Telegraph described it as a 'moment of individual wizardry' as the Welshman helped claw Gloucester back into the match.
Rugby writer Charles Richardson wrote in his report: "Sometimes, too, in moments of great despair, the only way out of the darkness and into the light is a moment of individual wizardry. Gloucester had just that when, early in the second half, the lightning bolt himself, Louis Rees-Zammit, scorched away for a 90-metre try.
"It was a pure test of pace, perhaps more suited to the athletics track than the rugby field, but his outpacing of Josh Bassett and Ali Crossdale did still take the breath away. And, following it, with Kingsholm incandescent, one just sensed that something special might unfold."
Under the headline 'Louis Rees-Zammit wonder try inspires record comeback', the Times quoted Gloucester boss George Skivington waxing lyrical about his prolific winger.
He said: “Zam has got those moments in him — he’s special and he can produce something like that and sometimes you need that.
“The boys were better in the second half but it helps when you get the ball to Zam. Anything that puts him in space, you don’t have to cross your fingers, you expect him to get there."
In his report, Daily Mail writer Alex Bywater wrote of Rees-Zammit: "In an archetypal game of two halves, quicksilver winger Louis Rees-Zammit started the home revival with a stunning long-range effort.
"The Wales wing's try was all the more remarkable given he was suffering from a back knock and had a broken lace on his boot."
It was the first time Rees-Zammit had been on a rugby field since he was involved in Wales' final Test against South Africa on July 16. During his summer break, the winger enjoyed some down time before doing some training in America. He arrived back in Gloucester camp two weeks ago but did not take part in their final pre-season match against Cardiff.
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