Warburton happy to be playing a starring role under the radar
SAM Warburton has revealed how going under the radar has taken the pressure off him and allowed his game to flourish.
The Cardiff Blues flanker was replaced as skipper by Alun Wyn Jones going into the Six Nations, bringing an end to his six-year stint at the helm.
He has responded to his new role back in the ranks superbly, emerging as one of the tournament’s outstanding performers and putting himself in pole position for a Lions Test starting spot.
The 28-year-old says it’s hard to know just how much his new “little role in the team” has contributed to his fine form, but he acknowledges there has been a different mindset.
“I don’t know what it is really. It must be mental, what you perceive I guess,” he says, as he prepares for Saturday’s Championship finale against France.
“My working week hasn’t changed dramatically, just a little bit of press on team announcement day, but that is about it.
“It’s more of a mindset issue, it is difficult to explain.
“Being captain of Wales carries a lot of weight on the shoulders. I remember when I was first captain I would be walking around the hotel and constantly thinking ‘oh my, I’m captain of Wales’ and all eyes are on you, you’re under the microscope really.
“Now I have taken myself out of that it feels like you’re under the radar which takes the pressure off.
“There has been disruption with a few more injuries than I would have liked in the past 12 months.
“So it has been good to take a bit of pressure and heat off myself and work on my own individual performance.
“I’ve been able to do a bit more rehab and not rush for press, just little things really have helped.
“Looking at my last four performances, I am really pleased with they way it has gone.
“That would be a big contributing factor. I am happy with where I am personally, and my little role in the team.
“Alun has done a fantastic job since taking over, it hasn’t caused any disruption within the players or the group dynamic, it has been a seamless transition. I am enjoying playing at the minute.”
The newly-unburdened Warburton produced another mighty display against Ireland last Friday night at the heart of a heroic Welsh rearguard during a 22-9 victory.
“It is very difficult not to concede a try these days in international rugby,” he said.
“I didn’t realize until we walked off the pitch that it was a tryless performance defensively. “Somebody said we’d won three nil on tries and I was really shocked, because when you’re in the game and in the moment you know the scoreboard.
“I knew we had to get another try to get a bonus point, so that was the target for us towards the end of the game, but I’d just presumed that Ireland being Ireland would have scored against us.
“So, in hindsight, I was really proud of our performance. It was a huge defensive effort and it took a lot out of the players emotionally because the two weeks building up to that gem we put a lot of pressure on ourselves, with the debrief of the Scotland game and we just didn’t want to lose three games in a row. That wouldn’t have been acceptable.
“So we put a lot of pressure on ourselves and we performed well for each other and for the fans really.”
Warburton, who is set to win his 73rd cap in Paris this weekend, continued: “We appreciated home games in the Six Nations aren’t cheap, people pay a lot of money and go to a lot of time and effort to watch us play and the atmosphere helps us massively.
“It’s also a nice feeling when you know everyone else had a good weekend, enjoying the success of the Welsh team. It’s nice to put a smile on people’s faces.”