Gatland's cautious approach to Lydiate's fitness
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Gatland's cautious approach to Lydiate's fitness
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has opted for a cautious approach with Dan Lydiate’s fitness, hence his exclusion from the side to face Australia.
Justin Tipuric comes in for Wales as they opt for two ‘fetchers’ to counter David Pocock at the breakdown.
"[Lydiate] got a serious knock on the eye last week and he's quite sore," Gatland revealed.
"I spoke to him on Monday and said if we were playing in the final then I would have picked him this week. The next day he understood the decision. He was fit for this weekend.
"Justin (Tipuric) deserves an opportunity. He’s been absolutely outstanding in the warm-up games. It gives us options and the balance we’ve had. It’s horses for courses and it’s about matching them at the breakdown.
"It will be a fierce contest. We’ve been successful in the past and the job Sam (Warburton) did in the second test for the Lions in 2013, in the way that he controlled things at the breakdown.”
Justin Tipuric comes in for Wales as they opt for two ‘fetchers’ to counter David Pocock at the breakdown.
"[Lydiate] got a serious knock on the eye last week and he's quite sore," Gatland revealed.
"I spoke to him on Monday and said if we were playing in the final then I would have picked him this week. The next day he understood the decision. He was fit for this weekend.
"Justin (Tipuric) deserves an opportunity. He’s been absolutely outstanding in the warm-up games. It gives us options and the balance we’ve had. It’s horses for courses and it’s about matching them at the breakdown.
"It will be a fierce contest. We’ve been successful in the past and the job Sam (Warburton) did in the second test for the Lions in 2013, in the way that he controlled things at the breakdown.”
