By Graham Thomas
Justin Tipuric has been told he must again get used to being in Sam Warburton’s shadow – rather than by his side.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has revealed he dropped Tipuric to the bench for Friday night’s Six Nations clash with France because he believes the flanker will thrive more when the game opens up.
Tipuric has got used to being the nearly man of Welsh rugby. Despite often being regarded as the most naturally talented player in the country – a judgement many other players are quick to make – most of his career has been spent on the outside looking in.
Of the 41 caps he was won for Wales, a mere 16 of them have been in the starting line-up. For the vast majority of the past five years, he has been a go-to man only when Warburton has gone off.
For this current tournament it appeared there had been a switch in thinking from Gatland. Seemingly in accord with his desire to play a more varied attacking game, he played both Warburton and Tipuric in the same back row for the opening two matches.
The results were a mixed bag, but former Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas insisted after the scratchy victory over Scotland that two matches in which to blend a new back row, was insufficient evidence on which to make a judgement.
But now Gatland has explained why he feels a back row that includes the return of Dan Lydiate to blindside flanker, and Warburton’s move across to the No.7 shirt, is more suitable to face the French.
“It is just a chance for that loose-forward trio [Lydiate, Warburton and Taulupe Faletau] to get back together, and an opportunity for Sam to play back at seven. I thought when he went to openside in the last 10-15 minutes against Scotland, there was an opportunity for him to get in the game.
“I think it’s been quite tough on the two guys on the flank [Warburton and Justin Tipuric] with Sam playing at six and being a little bit out of position.
“The way the first two games have gone, it’s been difficult for Justin to get involved defensively as teams are just using nine all the time and just playing one-off. That’s quite hard to play against, and to combat as well.
“So we have spoken to Justin about the game potentially loosening up in the last 25-30 minutes, and that being an opportunity for him to express himself a bit more than he has had the chance to do in the first couple of games.”
Gatland has made two other changes for the third round of the tournament, with wing Alex Cuthbert replacing his Cardiff Blues colleague Tom James, and Wasps lock Bradley Davies replacing an injured Luke Charteris.
Gatland added: “We just feel it’s an opportunity for Alex. We don’t think he is far away from coming back into some form and confidence.
“With Tom at the moment, we feel it’s an opportunity for him to get back and play some more stuff for the Blues. There is a big step up from regional rugby into international rugby.
“With the injury he had which kept him out of the World Cup squad, he’s been managed back at the Blues, so he knows himself he is down on sharpness and a bit of conditioning, so it’s an opportunity for him to keep working to hopefully get back to that.
“Bradley has been training really well, and he’s done well when he’s come on.
“Luke has been ruled out with injury, so the plan is for him to get back and fit and in contention, and then we will look at it from when he becomes available.
“But we are very lucky at the moment. There are five or six locks available to us who are really experienced and can do a good job. We are pretty well blessed there.”