Louis Rees-Zammit: I came back to Wales from the AFL faster and stronger

Rhys-Zammit suffered a toe injury in his fourth game for the Bears, but proved his fitness to earn selection on Wales’ bench for their opening match of the autumn.

This led to a huge pre-match focus on the substitute and garnered some of the biggest cheers of the afternoon.

Wales may have suffered a huge loss, but the winger was still able to reflect on being in his ‘happy place’ in a social media post.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “I’ve really missed being able to play at the Principality Stadium in front of our fans.

“It was unbelievable. You don’t really know you’ve left until you come back. When I came in and heard the crowd – all the support I had, it meant a lot to me.”

Wales have won just one of their 19 Tests while Reece-Zammit is out of the picture in America, but the winger is confident of brighter times under Tandy.

“You could see glimpses last weekend of what was to come. It was building a foundation for where we want to be and the team we want to be,” he said.

“We can do everything we can in training, but we have to show it on the weekend when all the fans paid good money to come and watch us play. That’s what they deserve.”

Rhys-Zammit’s last international victory was against Georgia in the 2023 World Cup, and he intends to help Wales repeat their summer success against Japan in a vital match ahead of the World Cup draw in December.

Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms will jump Tandy’s side to 12th in the world rankings if they upset the odds in Cardiff.

Rhys-Zammit said: “Everyone is busy with what’s next. The Japan game will be tough, but everyone is raring to go and buying in 100%. We’re all ready.”