Wales

Tipuric doubt for Wales tour to South Africa

ESPN Staff

Justin Tipuric has 24 caps for Wales © Getty Images Enlarge

Justin Tipuric could miss Wales' summer tour to South Africa in the latest blow to Warren Gatland's back row options.

Ospreys flanker Tipuric has a shoulder injury and there is a possibility he could miss the tour to have an operation. Captain Sam Warburton has already been ruled out, leaving Gatland to consider a makeshift back-row for the two-Test series.

"Justin has a shoulder problem which might need some work doing at the end of the season," said Gatland. "It could need an operation, a shaving of some bone, and there's a possibility he could be ruled out of the tour by it.

"But we've got other options because I think South Africa is a team you can play against, because of the size of the players they pick in their back-row, without a specialist openside."

Gatland revealed he could deploy Dan Lydiate in the number seven berth and bring in Bradley Davies at number six to combat the South African trio of Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts and Francois Louw.

"We could shift Dan from blindside to open-side and bring in Bradley at number six to deal with Alberts," said Gatland. "It's certainly something we are exploring."

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