TIPURIC IS LATEST GATLAND WORRY
JUSTIN TIPURIC looks set to miss Wales’s opening autumn Test against Australia on Saturday, giving Warren Gatland a selection headache. The Lions tourist is yet to recover from a thigh issue suffered in the warm-up before Osprey’s Champions Cup match against Saracens in October. Tipuric has not trained at the Vale with the national squad and is unlikely to be fit for the Wallaby Test. And No 8 Taulupe Faletau admits Wales will miss Tipuric if he is out. ‘Everybody knows the quality of Justin,’ he said. ‘I think he’s struggling a little bit for the weekend, but with the players who have been picked in the squad there’ll be an opportunity for someone else to step in and play that role.’ Sam Warburton, Ross Moriarty, Ellis Jenkins and Ollie Griffiths are all out, so head coach Gatland may have to field an inexperienced back row against 76-cap Michael Hooper and Co in Cardiff. Aaron Shingler, 30, who has 10 caps, and 26-year-old Josh Navidi, who played No 8 for Wales against Tonga and Samoa in Faletau’s absence this summer, are likely to be in contention. The third option is Osprey Sam Cross, 25, who has only played 132 minutes of professional, 15-a-side rugby in two matches against Saracens and Dragons, having converted from sevens. He won a silver medal with the Great Britain Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro. Tipuric’s injury means Gatland will probably turn to Dan Lydiate for ballast and experience on the blind-side flank against an Australian side who have won their last 12 Tests against Wales, dating back to 2008. Rhys Webb is also struggling with a knee injury, so Gareth Davies is in prime position to start at scrum-half. Defence coach Shaun Edwards said: ‘They will have to take part in training to put their hands up.’