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'Tipuric used to absolutely spank me... he would blitz me': Warburton
By Josh Raisey
For many years, Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric formed a successful back row partnership for Wales, but at the same time they had a healthy rivalry.
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While Warren Gatland opted on many occasions to start both on either side of the scrum, the two natural openside flankers were still competing for the red No7 jersey for the best part of a decade. But more importantly, they forever competed with each other in order to improve as players, and Wales reaped the rewards.
The former Wales captain gave an insight into the competition that existed between the pair on RPTV’s The Big Jim Show recently, where he discussed the strengths and weaknesses that each player had.
The former British & Irish Lions captain explained how Tipuric, who retired from Test rugby last year, got the better of him in terms of fitness, while he would excel at strength and power.
Crucially, Warburton said how elite players “need” competition like that, and he had a worthy adversary for many years in the national team who forced him to work harder.
“I’m not an engine guy, I’m much more of a strength and power guy,” the 74-cap Wales captain said six years after retiring in 2018.
“So engine was the last thing that would come with me. It was my worst thing in training. Tipuric used to absolutely spank me, but he was the best thing that could happen because he would blitz me in fitness and it would make me work really hard on my fitness.
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“Then it was probably vice versa, he would look at me from a strength and power perspective and he had to up his strength and power.
“When we talk about competition, the press think ‘you’re just making out that you’re friends,’ but no, competition you need it.”
