JUSTIN Tipuric believes Ospreys and Wales teammate Rhys Webb has “that X-factor”, as the scrum-half prepares for his first Test start in more than six months.

Webb has replaced Gareth Davies to face Italy at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, having not started for his country since a foot injury against the same opponents last September.

Openside Tipuric is pleased to see Webb return after injury, though he has sympathy for Davies, who drops to the bench following the loss to England.

“It’s obviously tough on Gareth as he’s a quality player as well,” said Tipuric, who started Wales’s first two games of the RBS 6 Nations.

“That’s the problem when you have so many good nines.

“I’m lucky enough to have played with Rhys from age grade and he has that X-factor.”

There is also a place in Saturday’s matchday squad for Tipuric’s fellow back rower Ross Moriarty, who could make his fifth appearance for Wales if he comes off the bench against the Italians.

Commenting on Moriarty’s strengths, Tipuric added: “Obviously ball-carrying, whether he’s at six or eight.

“He’s only 21 and he’s come the hard way really.

“He obviously got turned down by the Welsh regions or whatever and was only a young guy, but came through Hartpury and Gloucester.

“He has obviously done it the hard way and kept fighting.”

As for Tipuric, he will again look to make the most of a starting berth, something he hasn’t managed to pin down on a consistent basis since his debut against Argentina in August 2011.

He has been best known for his influence as a so-called ‘super-sub’, yet the tag of impact player is not one that sits well with him.

“I don’t think any player wants that to be honest,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure you do both really.

“So when you start you have to perform for 80 minutes and when you come off the bench the last thing you want to do is be negative, have no energy and not add anything to the team.

“Whenever you put that shirt on, you've just got to play like it’s the last time.

“I started one or two at the start of the campaign and it’s nice get back to starting and looking for a good performance on the weekend.”