Rugby

Rees-Zammit misses out as Faletau returns for Wales

Alex Cuthbert earns 50th cap in place of young star Rees-Zammit in shock move

Louis Reez-Zammit has been dropped by Wayne Pivac. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Thu Feb 24 2022 - 11:55

Wales boss Wayne Pivac has left out wing Louis Rees-Zammit and recalled number eight Taulupe Faletau for Saturday's Guinness Six Nations clash against England.

Rees-Zammit is replaced by a fit-again Josh Adams, with Alex Cuthbert retained on the other wing and set to win his 50th cap.

Faletau makes his first Wales appearance for 11 months, having proved his fitness following a long-term ankle injury by playing in Bath’s last two Gallagher Premiership matches against Wasps and Leicester.

He returns in a reshaped backrow, with Ross Moriarty switching to blindside flanker and Taine Basham lining up at openside. Jac Morgan, who made his Test debut against Scotland 12 days ago, is on the bench.

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Pivac has retained Owen Watkin and Nick Tompkins as his centre combination, while there are call-ups among the replacements for Ospreys outhalf Gareth Anscombe, Scarlets scrumhalf Kieran Hardy and Dragons prop Leon Brown.

Players with English clubs are released back to them if they are not involved in a Wales matchday 23, so Gloucester star Rees-Zammit will be available for the Premiership appointment with Leicester on Saturday.

He is one of the most exciting players in European rugby, collecting four tries during last season’s Six Nations and being picked for the British and Irish Lions’ South Africa tour.

The 21-year-old has carved out a reputation for scoring dazzling solo tries, which he underlined with a breathtaking touchdown against Fiji during this season’s Autumn Nations Series.

But Cuthbert shone against Scotland, while Adams, who missed that game due to a calf muscle problem, has repeatedly excelled for Wales, with 17 tries in 36 Tests.

Wales: L Williams; Cuthbert, Watkin, Tompkins, Adams; Bigg, T Williams; Jones, Elias, Francis; Rowlands, Beard; Moriarty, Basham, Faletau.

Replacements: Lake, Thomas, Brown, Davies, Morgan, Hardy, Anscombe, J Davies.

Alex CuthbertLouis Rees Zammit