Louis Rees-Zammit is reaping the rewards of the work he’s put into training, said Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam, as the Wales winger is enjoying a try-laden start to the season.

Rees-Zammit has scored four tries – two in each of the Bears’ first two Prem matches this season – the most of any player in the league.

Against Northampton last week his performance included five line breaks, 81 metres and a 50:22 kick, while he was denied a hat-trick in the closing stages as Tommy Freeman’s deliberate knock-on saw a penalty try awarded instead.

“He’s in such a great place mentally and he’s got a smile on his face, he’s enjoying the boys and the enjoying the way we’re playing and what we’re trying to do,” Lam said.

The Welshman, along with some of the other backs in the team, has been doing additional work following training with defence coach Jordan Crane on tackle technique, Lam added, which is also showing on the pitch.

“Yes, we see the finish stuff but when he took the ball on the counter and he’s banging physically into contact, he’s cleaning out – I just complemented him at training, in the wide breakdown the other team was trying to counter ruck [and] he got right under low and drove back at them,” he added.

“There’s a lot of stuff that I value and us as coaches value that he’s also doing.”