Wales' star winger Louis Rees-Zammit has been left to simmer on the sidelines for the time being as he starts from the bench against Argentina in a crunch Nations Championship clash. The 25-year-old, who's been making waves since his return to rugby after a stint in American football, will earn his 42nd cap on Saturday (20:10 BST) - but only from the substitutes' bench.
Head coach Steve Tandy has taken an interesting gamble by choosing Ellis Mee and Josh Adams alongside Blair Murray in the back three, a move that's got tongues wagging given Rees-Zammit's massive profile. Former Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies thinks this is just what Rees-Zammit needs: "When he comes off the bench, hopefully we'll see someone who doesn't want to relinquish his starting spot." He's certainly right about one thing - Rees-Zammit will be itching to prove himself.
Rees-Zammit's return to international rugby was marked by a couple of tries against Japan and New Zealand in the autumn, but he struggled to get on the scoresheet during the Six Nations while playing at full-back. Although he started Wales' opener against Fiji, where they managed a tight victory, it was the Fijian back three that stole the show with their dazzling play. Davies pointed out a significant difference in work rate, saying: "Ellis Mee has shown more of an appetite to get on the ball. Rees-Zammit's got X-factor when he gets the ball in his hands but Ellis has worked off his wing to get more touches."
This marks the first time Rees-Zammit has been dropped from the starting line-up since his return to the international fold as a replacement against Argentina in Cardiff. The only other times under Tandy where Wales lined up without him in the back three were due to the unavailability of England-based players against South Africa and the Barbarians - but this consistent presence makes the current decision all the more significant.
Another former Wales centre, Tom Shanklin, thinks the coaching team might be employing a motivational tactic. On Scrum V, Shanklin remarked: "Louis Rees-Zammit is the most X-factor player we have got. Maybe they are just trying to motivate him and get his hunger back." While acknowledging Mee's impact from the bench, Shanklin added: "For me, he is still the number one wing we have got but Ellis Mee made a difference off the bench. I probably wouldn't have dropped him. I'd still have him in there because you don't lose your X-factor overnight."
The challenge for Rees-Zammit now is to make sure he's back in the starting XV for the final match of a long season against South Africa in Durban.