What the loss of Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric actually means for Wales and how Gatland will plug the gaps at World Cup

It’s fair to say the retirements of Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric just four months out from the Rugby World Cup sent shockwaves through Welsh rugby.

They will be remembered in the top echelon of Wales internationals, certainly in the modern era, and can quite rightly look back on their careers with great pride

But putting the eulogising to once side, what does this actually mean for Warren Gatland whose Wales squad get together to start preparing for the World Cup in a matter of days?

How does he fill the gigantic voids just left behind?

READ MORE: Wales star Cory Hill announces he is leaving Japan, triggering a race for his signature from Welsh regions and French clubs

Well, to begin with Gatland is losing a huge amount of experience considering the pair have won an extraordinary 265 international caps between them.

Even if Jones and Tipuric are past their prime, that level of experience, and leadership, could have a huge bearing on the playing group who would have benefitted from having team-mates around the dressing room who have been there and done it.

Jones and Tipuric would have been contenders to wear the captain’s armband in France, so their retirements means Gatland has two fewer options in that regard.

But you can’t select a player on experience alone, and there is a strong argument to say Jones wouldn’t have been involved in the matchday 23 at the World Cup anyway.

The narrative over the past four years has been about ensuring Jones has one last swansong in France this autumn, but at 37-years-old time has finally caught up with the Wales great.

Jones is still a very good player but the repeatability isn’t there anymore, with Wales unable to select him in every game, which wouldn’t have been ideal in terms of building cohesion.

The most capped player in world rugby history is still the best all-round second-row in Wales but understandably at his age it would be difficult to maintain a high level of performance throughout the tournament.

One thing which Gatland identified as an area in desperate need of improvement after a disappointing Six Nations campaign, where Wales finished fifth, was the tight five.

During last year’s autumn internationals, and the Six Nations, Wales got blown away physically on too many occasions which meant they couldn’t get a foothold in the game.

Historically, Gatland’s game-plan has been hugely reliant on winning the collisions, and if Wales fail to gain at least parity this autumn then they’ll struggle to compete.

Wales’ front-five needs to be significantly fitter and more mobile than they have been in recent times.

The return of Will Rowlands is an enormous boost for Gatland, and the Racing 92 bound lock is almost a certainty to start the World Cup opener against Fiji in Bordeaux.

Gatland is also a big admirer of Ospreys stalwart Adam Beard who puts in a huge amount of unseen work, which is underappreciated by the wider public, while Exeter Chiefs youngster Dafydd Jenkins has made massive strides.

But the final nail in Jones’ coffin could have been the return of Cory Hill who has been exiled in Japan for the last two years. Hill is the closest Wales have to Jones in terms of style with the former Cardiff star possessing the right mix of athleticism, and physicality, while he is also another natural leader.

Gatland is likely to pair Beard and Rowlands with Hill on the bench, while Jenkins stands a good chance of making the final World Cup squad. Alun Wyn’s loss will be covered off that way – and might have been anyway, certainly in regards of the match-day 23.

The loss of the outrageously gifted Tipuric is more problematic for Gatland. Tipuric remains at the peak of his powers having been in sensational form for the Ospreys, and Wales this season.

Yes, Wales have more strength in depth at openside flanker than arguably any other country in the northern hemisphere but nobody has the all-round excellence of Tipuric.

Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell are even better at the breakdown in terms of winning turnovers, and slowing down opposition ball, but Tipuric brings everything together – whether it’s his ability in the lineout, class in the wide channels, or his remarkable defensive prowess.

Let’s not forget Gatland has also lost Josh Navidi to retirement with many experts making a convincing case for the former Cardiff star being the most important Wales player over the past four or five years.

Ross Moriarty has made himself unavailable for selection by his own accord after joining French strugglers Brive.

That’s a heck of a lot of back-row expertise and experience to lose, and Gatland would surely have preferred a more settled unit going into the World Cup.

With Tipuric missing, the likeliest back-row trio could well see a recall for old Gatland favourite Dan Lydiate at six, with Jac Morgan at seven and Taulupe Faletau No.8. Despite being 35, Lydiate proved he still has it in him with a series of relentless performances in South Africa last summer,

Gatland could just as easily opt for the athleticism of Christ Tshiunza, although the Exeter man remains a work in progress, while it would be foolish to rule out underrated Scarlets back-rower Josh Macleod or Taine Basham.

In terms of calling in replacements to his extended World Cup training squad Gatland already has 52 players so might well think he’s got everything covered, although in-form Cardiff man Thomas Young will be eagerly awaiting his call.

So Tipuric and Alun Wyn will be missed, of course they will, but Gatland might think he has decent enough alternatives to provide cover.

As for the captaincy, that’s still up for grabs. With Alun Wyn and Tipuric having gone, it just means there are two fewer options for the coach.

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