Gloucester head coach George Skivington praised the talents of wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who instigated a comeback in their Premiership victory over Wasps.
The Cherry and Whites were 21-0 behind early in the second period, having been completely outplayed in the first half, when the Wales international received the ball 90 metres out from the try-line.
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Rees-Zammit showed his pace, balance and finishing qualities to fend off the attentions of several defenders to touch down and reduce the arrears.
It gave Gloucester the confidence they needed to get on the front foot and eventually snatch a 27-21 triumph over Wasps in the Premiership on Sunday.
Expectation to score
“I back him all day long if he has got the ball in space,” Skivington said.
“He knows the importance that, when those moments are created for him, he is there to finish them off.
“We’ve seen a few of those moments. Anything that puts him in space, you don’t have to cross your fingers that he is going to get there, because you expect him to.
“He has got those moments in him – he’s special and he can produce something like that, and sometimes you need that.”
Rees-Zammit’s intervention was crucial after the hosts struggled to get going in the first 42 minutes.
Gloucester did not look like a side that came within touching distance of the play-offs last season, but they improved significantly following their first try.
“Wasps were definitely the better team in the first half, and we didn’t execute our plays or what we had set out to do. We had a couple of defensive wobbles, and Wasps took advantage,” Skivington added.
“I didn’t go to the hairdryer (at half-time). The challenge was more that we’d had two months of pre-season working on various things, and it didn’t look like we had worked on them.
“We just got a bit clunky in the first half – poor connections in defence. I think we were calmer in the second half.
“No-one is going to be defined on the first game of the season. Every game is intense and tight. They ebb and flow, and there are no poor teams in the Premiership.
“I expect us to be better than we were last season, I think it is going to be a ferocious league, but I expect four or five teams to be better. I think it will be a real dogfight.”
🎙 "Lightning strikes again…"
Just @LouisReesZammit doing @LouisReesZammit things. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/081T2G5hBO
— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) September 12, 2022
In stark contrast, Wasps boss Lee Blackett was left disappointed as they let a big lead slip in the second period.
“In the first half we looked in total control and were always in the right half (of the pitch),” Blackett said.
“In the second half it was the complete opposite. You know when you come here with players like Rees-Zammit you don’t dare make mistakes.
“Coming here and getting a point is not an absolute disaster, but we could have got more.”