After crossing for his first Magners League try in Saturday night's win over Edinburgh at the Liberty Stadium, young flanker Justin Tipuric paid tribute to Duncan Jones' 'great hands' in the build up to his score.
After crossing for his first Magners League try in Saturday night’s win over Edinburgh at the Liberty Stadium, young flanker Justin Tipuric paid tribute to Duncan Jones’ ‘great hands’ in the build up to his score.
21-year old Tipuric, from Trebanos, scored an outrageous first half try that saw him taking the ball on the wing before chipping experienced Scotland fullback Chris Paterson and winning the race to the bouncing ball, and after the game he was asked by the waiting media to talk them through his try.
“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. Gruff (Rees, Ospreys Skills Coach), will be very happy with that, he enjoys a little kick and chase so that should hopefully make him happy. It was just a bit of luck I think. I’ve scored another one like that in the U20 World Cup last year against Tonga.
“Just playing over the last month has been great, it’s been about experience and I’ve enjoyed it more than anything. I’ve been playing with people like Marty and JC, and tonight Ryan, and it’s been brilliant.
“Working with such quality players you are always learning, always picking up new things. I’m concentrating on learning and improving all the time, I’m not thinking too far ahead. It’s all about the challenge. I just want to play for the Ospreys and the more I do that the more I’ll learn and the better player I’ll be.”
Meanwhile, man of the match Richard Hibbard said that the win was a big stepping-stone on the way towards the forthcoming Heineken Cup games against Munster.
“It was an excellent result on the back of two other strong Magners League wins when the Wales squad was away. They are great results to build into Europe. In patches we were awesome, especially in the first 20 minutes when we kept building and taking points.
“I’m just happy to get some game time. It’s been pure conditioning for me over the last five or six weeks, but thankfully it seems to have paid off.”