He may have won only four caps for his beloved Wales but these are accompanied by the little matter of a Grand Slam, writes JOHN O'SULLIVAN

THERE IS a recurring verbal motif embedded in the fabric of the conversation that reveals much more than any words. It offers an explanation as to why the 22-year-old Wales and Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric is both highly decorated and regarded at both Test and club level despite his tender age.

No matter what obstacles are presented, Tipuric – the lineage on his father’s side is Croatian – focuses on clambering over them. His talent shone brightly in age-grade rugby but without that relentless drive to improve and the mental resolve to, not alone cope with disappointment but channel it towards a positive end, his progress would have been a little more measured.

He may have won only four caps for the principality but those are accompanied by a Grand Slam. He made his Ospreys senior debut in August 2010 but by the end of that season he was called in by the director of rugby Scott Johnson and informed that he would lead the team in the new campaign whenever club captain Alun-Wyn Jones was unavailable.

He played for Wales at every age grade (he interjects to point out modestly that he didn’t play for the Welsh U-16 team) including Sevens, starting 18 matches for Wales U-20 and scoring nine tries, including six in the 2009 Junior World Championship.

Sevens was crucial to his development. “I know some people view it as a separate game but it helped me develop as a player and as a person. You learn how to create and defend space, and also, travelling the world and playing against the best players helps you mature on and off the pitch.”

It’s an impressive list of achievements, which at face value appears to indicate a stellar rise – but fortune occasionally turned its back.

He was a member of Wales’s 45-man pre-World Cup squad for New Zealand last September – he had made his debut in August – but he didn’t make it.

“That was gutting, so disappointing, but I couldn’t dwell on it. It was important to go back to the Ospreys and just get on with trying to be the best I could be for the club and try and become a better player.”

These were far from empty words, and his reward arrived when he was called up to the Welsh match squad for the opening Six Nations Championship match with Ireland. Captain Sam Warburton succumbed to injury and Tipuric was introduced at the interval at the Aviva Stadium.

Irish supporters may recall that it was Tipuric’s soft hands at the back of a lineout that were the genesis for a move that involved George North and culminated in a try for Jonathan Davies. Then again they may prefer not to.

“Being called into the Welsh squad was a big shock in some respects as I didn’t expect it. Sam had picked up an injury and unfortunately he had to go off. I loved every minute of the Grand Slam – the games, the team spirit, it was just brilliant.”

It was a reward for his patience. It’s difficult to understudy any player in a Test team, but doubly so when he’s also the team captain.

He allowed himself a day or two of celebration but his focus switched quickly to tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 game against Leinster at the RDS. “It was great to get back training. There is a bounce there and everyone is in great form. We know the extent of the challenge that we face, but if we want to achieve our goal of making the play-offs then these are the matches you have to try and win.”

He accepts that the absence of a European tournament upon which to concentrate means that the Ospreys know that the league is the only outlet for silverware. The announcement that the coaching team of Johnson and Seán Holly were leaving at the end of the season, so too several players, hasn’t destabilised the club.

“Steve is already at the club and the players are a very tight bunch. You don’t pick and choose when you want to be competitive. We have five matches left to secure a place in the semi-finals and that’s what’s driving everyone on.”

He smiles when recalling how he and his team-mates reacted to the news that New Zealand World Cup winner Brad Thorn had joined Leinster.

“We were laughing until we realised we still had to play Leinster. We know that Brian is due back too. People talk about the players that might be missing but they produced impressive results during the World Cup when they were without their internationals. It’ll be tough.”

Tipuric views that as a challenge as much as a statement.