Any list of Wales’ greatest breakdown operators would need to feature Sam Warburton and Gethin Jenkins or else not be worth the paper it’s written on.
Picture, if you will, Warburton attempting a turnover for Cardiff in a Judgement Day fixture at the Principality Stadium. The Ospreys sent in at least three men to try to clear him out, including Richard Hibbard, a man not known for a light-touch approach to such matters.
But Warburton refused to budge. Maybe if they’d shelled him first and then sent in the infantry the outcome would have been different; maybe not.
Then there was Jenkins, thundering into contact situations before somehow emerging with the possession. He did it so often it almost became a party trick, but it couldn’t have been easy to perfect.
You can read the full transcript of Wayne Pivac’s press conference here.
Anyway, Wales’ emerging youngster Taine Basham has benefited from the pair’s knowledge.
Wayne Pivac revealed as much after naming the Dragons player in Wales’ squad for the autumn Tests.
“Taine has a great skill set with power and pace,” Pivac said after announcing his squad for the games with New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Australia.
“He can play in the wide channels and brings X-factor to the 7 jersey, and he is slowly developing the dark arts of the breakdown.
“It started with Sam Warburton doing work with him and Gethin Jenkins of late has been doing that work with him.
“He is improving in that area. We have invested time in him because we believe he has the power output, the speed and the skill set.
“The dark arts can improve over time and we have to look at the amount of turnovers you get at international level now. Look at boys who are more jackal experts and they get one or two a game at club level, which probably translates to not a lot at international level.
“We are looking outside of just the breakdown area. It is an important part of the game, obviously, because we have to slow down opposition ball.
“We think Taine is a more rounded player. He’s been in for a couple of campaigns now, has learned from mistakes and is turning the corner with discipline and fitness levels.”
Basham is still only 21 but he can dominate games, something Connacht wouldn’t argue with. Playing against the Irish province in Galway last weekend, he produced an eye-popping set of statistics that saw him put in 15 tackles, make 63 metres from 13 carries, peel off two clean breaks and beat seven defenders.
He was also on the scene for multiple turnovers.
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It might come as a mild surprise to learn that he didn’t fly the plane home after the game.
His X-factor qualities have long been evident, but the Dragons coaches have been eager to ensure others areas are not forgotten about.
The summer Tests didn’t go brilliantly for virtually every Wales player involved, Basham included.
“It’s been interesting with Taine because I don’t think he came out of the summer smelling of roses,” said Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan.
“I think it was a tough ask for him. As the physicality ramped up, he got a great insight into what tier one international games look like.
“Then when he came in, we were still challenging him around some of the nuts and bolts of the game at the beginning of the season.
“It’s been a constant challenge for Taine. We all know what he can do in the broken field, the TV moments — he’s fantastic.
“His nuts and bolts need to be right at the forefront of his game. All good players respond and his response was there for all to see last week.
“He put in a man of the match performance through some of the nuts and bolts of the game. His turnovers were outstanding.
“And he’s still capable of making a break from anywhere.
“If he can trade at the foundations of international rugby, then he’s got a great career because his bits and pieces that come off the back of that are fantastic.
“He’s got his opportunity and we’ll see where Wayne sees him in the pecking order.”
Wales will hope he does maintain his progress, for Basham is the kind of No. 7 Pivac wants to nurture, one of who is multi-skilled, powerful and able to influence matches in different areas.
The Gwent product plays in the most competitive position in Welsh rugby, where other exceptional youngsters struggle to get a look in. When the likes of Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi are fit, Basham may himself have to show patience.
As Ryan suggests, there remains plenty to learn. Tipuric’s point of difference at the breakdown is that he knows when to strike. The 86-cap Wales and Lions forward doesn’t waste time and energy chasing lost causes. He is experienced enough to know when he has a realistic chance of poaching opposition ball. When he goes for it, he goes all out.
If a turnover isn’t on, he takes his position in the defensive line, operating where he can be most useful to his team at any given time.
It can take years to develop such rugby intellect.
But Basham’s potential isn’t in doubt.
Learning from Warburton and now Jenkins will only help him.
Just maybe, a considerable talent could be coming through.
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