“I’ve never heard so many swear words in one sentence that made so much sense.”
So reckoned a Preston Grasshoppers player back in the day when asked what the great England and Lions lock Wade Dooley had said to inspire his team to turn a 13-0 interval deficit into a 16-13 victory.
Then there was the Welsh club captain from the amateur era who opted for a different approach to firing up a side, preferring to go in for a spot of Zen meditation himself in the minutes before a game and leaving his charges to their own devices.
It’s fair to say there is no one template for captaincy. Some are shouters, others embody a calmer approach. Many lead by example, while some are big on analysis and a few have the rare gift of being able to make tactical changes on the pitch as the game unfolds.
It is a tough job, though — 90 percent luck and 10 percent skill, Richie Benaud described it as, while adding: “But don’t try it without that 10 percent.”
Quite who Warren Gatland settles on as Wales skipper for the Six Nations will be fascinating.
The New Zealander will want to put his own stamp on the squad after taking over from Wayne Pivac — he upgraded Ryan Jones to the captaincy after taking over in 2008 — but he will be mindful of trying to fix what might not be broken.
Certainty, there are no shortage of candidates to wear the armband in the World Cup year of 2023 with Dan Biggar, Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard, Ken Owens, Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Will Rowlands among them. All of those have leadership credentials. You can read more about the contenders to be Wales captain here.
But pundits Tom Shanklin and Shane Williams believe one of those listed above stands about above the others for the job of guiding Wales into the second Gatland era.
That man is Tipuric, who led Wales in the autumn.
Speaking on a Viaplay Media Q&A over Zoom with Williams, ex-Wales centre Shanklin reckoned the job had to go to someone who was an automatic selection.
“I would still go with Justin Tipuric,” he said. “He’s one of the most naturally gifted rugby players that you’ll see and he's always going to start if he’s fit.
“He’s tough — really, really tough — and he has an all-round set of skills. You need that link and forwards who are ball players in the modern game. It’s not just about forwards carrying and giving the backs the ball. It’s the interlinking play. You need players who are clever.
“So I would still go with Tipuric.”
Tipuric leads by example but he is also a thinking forward and respected among his peers for his rugby intelligence. You can read more here about how he was almost lost to rugby.
Biggar will be back after missing the autumn Tests and there has been speculation Jac Morgan could come through to take the job, but Shanklin's fellow double-Grand Slam winner Shane also feels the standout candidate for the job is the man in the blue hat.
“I watched Tipuric in the autumn series and I don’t think he was a hundred percent fit,” said the wing legend, who with Shanklin was previewing the United Rugby Championship derbies in Wales over the festive season. “I think it was just desperation to get him back as soon as.
“However, since then, he’s got better and better with every game. He was superb at the weekend against Montpellier. He’s captain of his club for a reason and he’s number one player on a team-sheet in selection.
“It’s not all about what happens in the game, either. It’s in training as well.
“You can see Jac Morgan has elevated as a player since he’s been working with Tipuric. Let’s remember, too, that he will be one of the most experienced players in that squad come the Six Nations. And who knows him better than Warren Gatland? Nobody, I don’t think.
“We are not far away from a World Cup — do we need to start looking for another captain now? I don’t think we do.
“If he stays fit and continues to play like he’s playing at the moment, he’s going to be some player come the Six Nations and World Cup."
VOTE FOR YOUR WALES RUGBY PLAYER OF 2022
Williams added: "There will be changes. A lot of inexperienced players will come into the fold for the Six Nations. Gatland’s not worried about making changes and mixing things around a bit, but, if he knows one player, it’s Justin Tipuric.
“Gats knows him inside out. That would be the easy choice for me.”
SHANE WILLIAMS / TOM SHANKLIN are part of the Viaplay team - bringing every game from the BKT United Rugby Championship throughout the season.
Join Shane Williams, Tom Shanklin, Ross Harries and Rhys Ap William for back-to-back Welsh derby action on December 26th and New Year’s Day – kicking off with two big Boxing Day battles as Dragons take on Cardiff (kick off 2.15pm) followed by Ospreys v Scarlets from Swansea.com stadium (kick off 5.15pm). Visit www.viaplay.com for more information.Viaplay is available on Sky, Virgin TV, Amazon Prime and online through the Viaplay App.
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