Rees-Zammit returns: Starts for Wales vs. Japan after his NFL adventure

Louis Rees-Zammit returns to the Welsh starting XV after his foray into American football. The match against Japan in Cardiff will mark his first start since leaving the NFL. The talented wing, who joined Bristol this season after his time with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been included in Steve Tandy’s team for the second match of the Quilter Nations Series at the Principality Stadium. Rees-Zammit, 24 years old, already had minutes in the match against Argentina, coming off the bench in the 52-28 defeat last Sunday.

The injury to captain Jac Morgan has caused changes in the pack. Alex Mann moves to the open flanker position, while Alan Wainwright will start as blindside. Olly Cracknell, Leicester player, enters the team as number eight after debuting as a substitute the previous weekend. Tandy has also made rotations in the first line. Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin come into the team, while Rhys Carre and Keiron Assiratti will be on the bench. The hooker Dewi Lake takes over the captaincy in place of Morgan, who will miss the rest of the autumn series due to a dislocated shoulder.

I think we clearly saw what we want to do against Argentina. There were many positives, our attack was excellent and I saw a lot of physicality, but there is much to improve.

Steve Tandy

The coach added: “We are focusing on that. We want to build on the first performance for this weekend.”Wales’ Lineup against Japan:

• Blair Murray
• Louis Rees-Zammit
• Max Llewellyn
• Ben Thomas
• Josh Adams
• Dan Edwards
• Tomos Williams
• Nicky Smith
• Dewi Lake (captain)
• Archie Griffin
• Dafydd Jenkins
• Adam Beard
• Aaron Wainwright
• Alex Mann
• Olly Cracknell

Substitutes: Liam Belcher, Rhys Carre, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Taine Plumtree, Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Nick Tompkins.