Tipuric facing mammoth battle, predicts Shane

JUSTIN Tipuric is facing one of the toughest battles of his career as he prepares to return after more than a year on the sidelines.

So says his former team-mate Shane Williams, who is predicting a colossal tussle for Wales’ No. 7 shirt this season.

The openside position has been Tipuric’s preserve for many seasons.

But the emergence of Tommy Reffell has given Wales boss Wayne Pivac a selection headache, albeit a welcome one.

Tipuric has been absent since suffering a scapula injury in the summer of 2021, though the Ospreys have pencilled him in to resume when they host Northampton Saints at the Brewery Field this weekend.

Reffell performed exceptionally on Wales’ tour of South Africa, but Tipuric has vast experience gained over 11 years in Test rugby. He has one of the best defensive games in the world, creates and organises.

Writing in The Rugby Paper, his old Ospreys team-mate Williams predicts the mother of all battles for the Wales openside position in the coming season.

Of Tipuric, he says: “As far as I’m concerned, he is one of the world’s greatest players, but it will be interesting to see if he goes straight back into Pivac’s starting XV for their next Test match against New Zealand November.

“Obviously, this is all assuming he stays fit and picks up where he left off on his return for the Ospreys in the early weeks of the season.

“Wales’ strength in depth at openside is well-documented but Tommy Reffell is the only player I think Pivac will seriously consider starting ahead of Tipuric.”

Reffell was arguably Wales’ best in player in South Africa, says Williams.

“Make no bones about it, the Pencoed product is the man in possession of the No. 7 jersey, and the onus is very much on Tipuric to win back his shirt,” says Williams.

“But Tipuric’s all-round game is phenomenal, and his overall contribution is too great to ignore.

“That will certainly be a battle to watch out for over the coming season.”