There was more than one Welsh ray of sunlight shining brightly in English rugby over the weekend.
Louis Rees-Zammit deservedly attracted headlines after his try for the ages for Gloucester against Wasps at Kingsholm. He was carrying the ball for close on a hundred metres, had a back knock and a broken lace, for heaven’s sake, yet still managed to stay ahead of Ali Crossdale, who himself is known for having serious wheels.
But another Wales international also merits a pat on the back after his weekend exertions.
Read more : Louis Rees-Zammit's try was more special than people thought as issues emerge
Christ Tshiunza made his first Gallagher Premiership start for Exeter Chiefs in their 24-20 win over Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park on Saturday. Normally a lock, he can also play blindside but against the east Midlanders he figured at No. 7, apparently because of a lack of availability in the back five of the home pack.
Under the circumstances, the 20-year-old could be more than happy with his effort.
Standing at the front of the lineout, Tshiunza pinched two Leicester throws, was safe on his own ball, took several restarts cleanly, defended solidly and made 14 metres from five carries before being replaced on 55 minutes. Frequently, he made it over the gainline, buying that extra metre or two for his team.
Plenty liked what they saw, including former England and Lions back rower Lawrence Dallaglio, who was working on the game for BT Sport.
In commentary, Dallaglio said of the young Wales international: “I'm just impressed with him. This is very early on in his career and yet he's prepared to get himself involved right across the park. We'll keep a really good eye out for him."
He had earlier enthused about Tshiunza after the Exeter player’s bright opening, saying: “He's been involved in everything so far. He took the kick off and has taken one of his own lineouts and stolen a Tigers' ball.
“He might have seven on his back but he's an all-action player.”
Putting a big focus on the game, the DevonLive website also looked favourably upon the efforts of the former Whitchurch High School pupil, awarding him an 8 out of 10 in their player ratings and describing his show as “a coming-of-age performance”. You can read more about Tshiunza moving people to tears here.
“The Welsh international proved he can do it in the Premiership,” they wrote.
“A couple of early lineout steals align with demonstrating magnificent defensive leadership under many minutes of Tigers’ pressure demonstrates the 20-year-old’s maturity, and he’s ready to make a mark on the domestic game.”
In their verdict on the game, writers Nathan Russell and John Evely devoted a section to the Wales U20s player in an overall piece headlined ‘ Hyped Welsh star the real deal’.
“More minutes are coming for the young man this season, and today’s performance evidenced he is more than ready,” they concluded.
Tshiunza is unlikely to get carried away.
With Wales at the U20 Summer Series, he didn’t do a lot of media, instead happy to let his rugby do the talking. He is still developing as a player and will eventually need to sit down with his coaches to decide where he is best suited to play, but already he boasts significant physicality and his skills are improving, notwithstanding one dropped pass on Saturday.
It is understood Wales are quite interested in the thought of Tshiunza settling at blindside.
Whatever, Wayne Pivac would have enjoyed his effort against Leicester, not least because it showed he is able to adapt, a useful quality for a coach when it comes to naming a tournament squad.
What he needs at this point in his career is plenty of rugby, and in that respect he didn’t do his cause any harm in his first full game for the Devonians. They will have noted that he wasn’t fazed in the slightest by being plunged into a game with England’s champion club.
That augurs well.
How he fares over the rest of the season will be intriguing.
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