Analysis: Tipuric - From ball player to machine
If you have spent any time watching rugby in the past seven or eight years, the chances are you’ve heard someone joke that Justin Tipuric could probably play centre. The reason for that, of course, is that Tipuric’s sevens’ background, game intelligence, and general skill seem perfectly fitted to allow him to do so.
In the early years of his career, Tipuric was known as one of Wales’ many flair opensides, with his blue scrum cap frequently seen popping up in the wide channels, linking play, offloading, and getting his name on the scoresheet to boot. His jackaling has always been a threat, as has his lineout work, as he only needs one player to lift him, but it was his flair that caught the eye.
In recent years, however, he has been more noticeable for endless grunt work — the type that, were it not for his iconic scrum cap, might go unseen. His tackle count is always one of the highest in the Wales team and, while they might not be “dominant” tackles, he rarely misses one. In fact, in 2017, between Ospreys, Wales, and the Lions, he made 346 tackles and only missed just seven.
His tackle completion at the Rugby World Cup, when Wales consistently invited opposition teams to run at them, backing their defence, was 95% over five games. Not bad when you consider the teams he played included Australia, France, and the eventual winners.
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WATCH: The guys round up all the Guinness Six Nations and Premiership action. They discuss the shenanigans at the breakdown in England v Ireland among others. We also hear from Brad Shields on his injury and his quest to get back into Eddie’s England squad.
Now, as new coach Wayne Pivac looks to add some verve to Wales’ attack, it seems both sides of Tipuric’s game could be used to great effect. Despite underwhelming performances from Wales against Ireland and France, Tipuric has been consistently excellent in attack and defence.
LINING UP EVERYWHERE
It is particularly noticeable that Tipuric, an excellent jumper, has rarely been used in the lineout so far in the Six Nations. Instead, Pivac mostly prefers to use him to defend or attack off the throw, where his game intelligence works to maximum effect.
Here, for instance, he waits in the defensive line and tackles Ireland’s Iain Henderson. The double tackle with Taulupe Faletau prevents Ireland’s latch carry from being effective and Wales get the turnover.
Again and again, on Ireland’s throw, Tipuric was used to make a tackle of the first or second phase rather than to contest the throw. He was also often used as a carrier off Wales’ lineouts. At the very end of the game, when Wales have a lineout on the Irish line, he has a slightly different role. He you can see him stand back and wait. It almost looks as though he is ambling towards the Welsh maul but he is actually analysing the situation, waiting for the right moment, and picking his entrance perfectly in order to take the ball and score the try.
WORKING 0-80
Most professional players at this level work pretty hard but Tipuric’s work ethic is something special. According to Sam Larner, rugby analyst and journalist, Tipuric has one of the highest rates for attacking ruck arrivals in the tournament so far. His tackle counts have consistently been at game-high levels and he carries more than most of his fellow Welsh forwards.
Time and again in games, his scrum cap can be spotted making multiple interventions in a few seconds. Here, against Ireland, you can see him take the ball, pass it on before latching onto the carrier, and helping secure the ball.
In the opening 20 seconds against France, he is involved twice in Wales’ move, arriving at the attacking ruck in time to secure the ball before getting back into position to run a line from Dan Biggar. Here, he comfortably picks up the ball and passes it on before arriving at yet another ruck.
In Tipuric’s case, this work isn’t unseen because of his scrum cap but it’s not always obvious how important these small interventions are. His awareness of the game around him and immediate arrival at these rucks helps his team secure the ball and also allows other players to get into position for the next phase. The more players Wales have free, the more options there are in attack.
Here, he makes a tackle and wins Wales a turnover, doing classic openside work. All the momentum was with France at this point and this turnover was important in Wales getting a foothold back in the game as they built up to an equaliser.
CATCHING THE EYE
Of course, picking up all of this grunt work doesn’t mean Tipuric has forgotten how to do the exciting stuff. A player of his calibre is perfectly suited to Pivac’s approach and he has already returned frequently to the wide channels where he can be so effective. Here, against Ireland, he shows he hasn’t forgotten how to pick a lovely line or throw a well-timed offload.
Later, he linked up beautifully down the right wing with Taulupe Faletau, another Welsh forward who is comfortable in the wide channels. Against France, he showed his quick thinking here, recognising that the French players were protesting the free kick rather than moving back 10 metres so he takes the kick quickly, earning a penalty advantage as he does so, and then carries towards the French line to try to take them off-guard.
Unfortunately, Wales couldn’t capitalise on the scrum position he earned them, despite numerous attempts and it is clear that, generally, Pivac’s new approach is going to take time to stick. One player who looks absolutely at home with the approach, however, is Tipuric and it’s no surprise.
High-octane, high-risk attacking game plans like Pivac’s require many of his qualities: not just game intelligence and a wide skill set but the ability to generate fastball in attack and gain turnover ball to turn defence into attack, as well as a huge workrate.
Wales have an astonishingly large group of talented back row options and competition is fierce but it would take some player to dislodge Tipuric from his position, just as it does at the breakdown.
Comments on RugbyPass
This just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
16 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
16 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
16 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
16 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
16 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
16 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
16 Go to comments