Lions captain Warburton astonishing admission over Wales openside fight for World Cup
If Sam Warburton manages to get back into the Wales set-up, he is confident it will be the best international side he has been a part of.
Warburton captained the British and Irish Lions in the drawn series against New Zealand but missed the entire 2017-18 season due to neck and knee injuries.
The flanker will return to action in August and is aware of the battle he has on his hands to regain his place in Warren Gatland’s team, with Wales gaining wins over South Africa and Argentina despite other key absentees like Alun Wyn Jones, Liam Williams, Ken Owens, Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies and Josh Navidi.
Warburton is not fazed by the challenge and believes Wales are in a great position to achieve success.
“If I was lucky enough to get back into the Wales team at any point in my career now, if I got into that team I could imagine the calibre of the 30-odd players around me I’d be looking around the room thinking, ‘Crikey, I haven’t been in a squad this strong before or ever from a Welsh perspective’,” Warburton told Omnisport, speaking on behalf of Land Rover.
“So that would be really exciting to be part of that again and having full confidence in all the squad.
“Beforehand you might have thought there’s perhaps 15 to 20 guys who could start a game, I think there’s 30 guys who could start a game now and I think you couldn’t complain with the selection either because the coach might go with a different player for a tactical reason.
“To have that much genuine talent around now at international level it would be a really exciting thing to be a part of.”
✈️ Santa Fe
Squad have touched down in Santa Fe ahead of this weekend’s final clash against @lospumas pic.twitter.com/inEIHe5It0— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) June 14, 2018
Flankers Ellis Jenkins and James Davies shone in Test victories over South Africa and Argentina respectively, which Warburton feels highlights the depth of quality Wales possess in the back row.
However, he has no concerns about his own international future.
“It’s just an absolute joke how many sevens there are in Wales at the minute. We’re talking about the guys in the squad at the minute, with Josh Navidi at home, Justin Tipuric, I’m a big fan of Ollie Griffiths as well from the Dragons,” Warburton said.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration but I think Wales have got the most strength in depth at openside flanker in world rugby.
“James and Ellis, I would really like to see those boys play together and see what damage they cause at the breakdown because if I was playing against those two it’s probably one of the toughest internationals you’re going to play all season.”
He added: “There’s been competition around in every position. I’d actually be slightly worried if there was no competition going on whatsoever.
“It’s not really put me in a different situation to the past. I’m always going to believe in my own ability and back myself and if you don’t get picked you put your hands up and admit you’re perhaps not as good as the other player.”
Sam Warburton is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover has a heritage in rugby at all levels; from grassroots to elite. Follow @LandRoverRugby
Comments on RugbyPass
Looked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
34 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
34 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
34 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
34 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
34 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
34 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
34 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
34 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
34 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to comments