A new challenge for Tipuric as Euro cup reaches its business end
HE has more than a half century of caps for his country and is on the verge of a second Lions tour, but Justin Tipuric will have the chance to savour another milestone on Sunday – his first taste of European knockout rugby.
The Wales openside was making tentative steps in his professional career when the Liberty region were at the peak of their powers in the then Heineken Cup.
They reached the last eight on three successive occasions - each time coming up short, first against a Richard Hill-inspired Saracens at Vicarage Road, a rampant Munster at Thomond Park and then in a heart-breaking late loss to Biarritz in San Sebastian in a memorable encounter on the Bay of Biscay.
“I was a fourth or fifth-choice number seven here then,” recalled the 27-year-old ahead of Sunday’s Challenge Cup tie with Stade Francais at the Principality Stadium.
“Being there as part of the academy and seeing the boys playing in big games in big stadiums, it was something I always wanted to do with the Ospreys.”
Tipuric gets his wish in Cardiff on Sunday evening as the Ospreys look to live up to their billing as tournament favourites.
Their progress through the pool stages was serene, making history as the first side in European competition ever to complete a full house of bonus-point wins.
Last weekend’s shock defeat out in Treviso - a result and performance head coach Steve Tandy described as ‘embarrassing’ - has given the four-times league champions a severe jolt, although the return of Tipuric, together with international team-mates Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb, will surely ensure there is no repeat.
In contrast, Stade - languishing in 12th in the Top 14 - gave themselves a timely tonic with a 17-11 win over former Euro kings Toulon in Paris last Sunday.
It was a stirring victory for a side who were crowned French champions two years, but have falled on some testing times, including the controversial ‘on-off’ merger talks with city rivals Racing 92, that saw players threaten strike action.
Tipuric believes that player solidarity will give Stade extra purpose for the remainder of the season.
And together with world-class performers like Sergio Parisse and Will Genia, it makes the Ospreys’ task that much harder come Sunday evening.
“I have been impressed with how they have stuck together,” added the Trebanos product. “It must be a hard position not knowing what is happening to your club at the end of the season.
“It has given them motivation as well as there being a trophy to be won.
“It has pulled them stronger together as a team and it showed on the game at the weekend when they turned Toulon over.
“But we have done well in this competition so far and we want to keep it going.
“When you are in a quarter-final you do get excited how far you can go.”
Having been rested for the trip to Treviso, it will be Tipuric’s first taste of action since that dramatic 100-minute Six Nations finale in Paris.
The flanker enjoyed a fine tournament, working impressively in tandem with Sam Warburton.
That has put him firmly in the frame for a Lions call when Warren Gatland unveils his squad on April 19, although like many other hopefuls being quizzed on the tour this week, the L-word is not on the agenda.
“You can’t think of it. I don’t think any of the players think like that. You have got to concentrate on the job because anything can Tipuric.
“All I am thinking about is trying to get us through to the semis.
“Obviously, it was nice to start every game in the Six Nations, but it wasn’t the best way to finish.
“The worst thing is the ‘what ifs’, especially with that England game which could have put us in a good position. That was tough to take and going to Scotland could have been a lot different.
“But it is exciting to come back to the Ospreys with a lot to play for this season.
“There’s been a lot of change since we last won a trophy, we have gone through some tough times, but hopefully now we are moving in the right direction.
“It is what you play rugby for, to win trophies.” happen,” added