British Lions: Tipuric used to battling skipper

Justin Tipuric: Warburton battle. Picture: Getty

The two Wales flankers are the specialist No 7s in Warren Gatland’s squad for the tour of Hong Kong and Australia.

Gatland’s choice of Warburton as skipper would suggest the Cardiff Blues man is likely to start the three Test matches, thereby limiting Tipuric’s own aspirations. The Ospreys openside was preferred to Warburton in the No 7 shirt and turned in a man-of-the-match display in Wales’ 30-3 Six Nations victory over England.

Warburton played at No 6 on that occasion but there is plenty of competition for the blindside role with Tom Croft, Sean O’Brien and Dan Lydiate also available, and he is far more likely to be considered solely  as a No 7.

But Tipuric expects form on tour to determine who will feature in the Tests. He said: “It’s never nice with the captain in your position but I’ve had it for the last few years with Wales now. You’ve just got to keep enjoying your rugby and keep working hard and training hard more than anything. A lot of  it is down to form and the  game plan the coaches want to follow.”

He added: “If you look at the strength of the back row, everyone’s such a good player, it’s unbelievable and it’s quite an honour more than anything to be involved because of the  quality of the players.”

Australia have their own selection dilemma at No 7 after David Pocock was ruled out of the series with a knee injury. That leaves the trio of Michael Hooper, Liam Gill and veteran George Smith to choose from for Wallabies’ coach Robbie Deans, although Smith looks set to miss the first Test with his own knee injury.

But Tipuric said: “They’re all top players. If you’re a number seven coming through the ranks out there you have to be one hell of a player to get into the Test side. If you look at the four sevens they’ve got, it’s unbelievable how much talent they’ve got.

“George Smith has been in unbelievable form for the Brumbies and you look at the youngsters they’ve got coming through in Gill and Hooper, it’s going to be tough opposition.”