Young Welsh flanker Justin Tipuric scored his first Magners League try in style on the weekend as Ospreys beat Edinburgh 33-16 at the Liberty Stadium. The try was top quality, and many have tipped Tipuric to be a future Test rugby star.
A few weeks back Scott Johnson, Ospreys Director of Coaching, went out of his way to say that he feels the 21 year old could yet sneak into the Wales squad for the World Cup.
"Don't rule it out. He's a wonderful player," said Johnson. "Martyn Williams has been such a wonderful player that logic suggests it should be hard for Wales to replace such a special individual. But the reality is they are very, very fortunate as regards potential replacements.
"I think Tipuric is going to be a special international player," he added.
The talk now is off Tipuric taking over from 34 year old Marty Holah at Ospreys when he leaves, but before that, senior honours may be on the cards. His ball carrying and stealing ability was on show against Edinburgh, and the wonderful try topped off a great personal performance.
"We have a special talent there who has all-round ability," said coach Sean Holley.
"He showed some class against Edinburgh and his try was sublime. You don't often see something like that from many back rowers, especially in those conditions."
Tipuric himself has paid tribute to the superb hands of prop Duncan Jones, who delivered a perfectly timed pass the likes of James Hook would have been proud of.
"I was just coming around the corner, talking to Duncan and he gave me an absolutely brilliant pass to be honest, great hands on him" he explained.
"I could see the fullback coming up at speed and the space behind so I thought I'd go for the chip. I was just hoping then that it would bounce up into my hands and it did. The fullback slipped, luckily, and I was over the line.
"You've just got to play what's in front of you and see what happens," he added.
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