Wales captain Sam Warburton is determined to prove his critics wrong when they face Argentina in Cardiff on Saturday.
There have been calls for Warburton to be replaced at openside flank by Justin Tipuric for the upcoming internationals but Wales caretaker coach Rob Howley has opted to stick with the man who led Wales to the 2011 RWC semi-finals.
With Tests against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand coming after the clash with the Pumas, Warburton is confident he can repay the faith which Howley has shown in him.
"I know in myself how well I can play and the coaches know and so do fellow players and my family," Warburton told Walesonline.
"That is the sort of approval you seek as a player.
"If your fellow squad members respect you, then I think that's the most important thing.
"It's understandable how people have differing views on selection.
"But I'm really looking forward to trying to have a good performance in a Welsh shirt again - and I'm hoping I can surprise a few people this weekend."
The Cardiff Blues stalwart was philosophical when questioned about the pressure which Ospreys tearaway Tipuric was putting on him.
"I knew pressure like this would happen from day one, even when everything was going well after the World Cup," explained Warburton.
"You are not going to play 12, 13 years of your career without getting any criticism.
"Nobody gets man of the match performances for 12 years on the bounce. It's impossible.
"You have got to take the rough with the smooth.
'It was inevitable that sooner or later somebody comes through and puts pressure on your position.
"So I've kind of been ready for that. I've been primed for it, I guess.
"When I was coming through and I was going for Martyn Williams' position, that was the same thing he was experiencing.
"So it's just part and parcel of playing professional rugby and if there wasn't any competition, Welsh rugby wouldn't be doing its job in producing players and talent.
"I think it's a great place to be in that we've got these players to pick from.
"When I was first starting out, there was a lot of stress if people had to look beyond Martyn for the number seven position.
"But now there's a fair few players who can do a job there.
"From a positive point of view, it's great that we have got that selection dilemma.
"I'm sure the coaches would much rather be in the situation they are in now where they are having tough selections as opposed to three or four years ago when they had their 15 and that was pretty much it."
Comments
side_stepper says...
I'm backing Warburton to show why imo he was the best openside in RWC11..if not now, then during the Lions series..
Posted 05:31 10th November 2012