Crossword Genius

Riposte requires right sword fencing skill (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

repartee

'riposte' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'right sword fencing skill' is the wordplay.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'sword' becomes 'epee' (epee is a kind of sword).
'fencing' is an insertion indicator (to fence can mean to contain or put a limit round).
'skill' becomes 'art' (I've seen this before).
'epee' going around 'art' is 'epartee'.
'r'+'epartee'='REPARTEE'

'requires' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for repartee that I've seen before include "Smart retorts or witty replies" , "Clever or witty rejoinder" , "Comic dialogue" , "Lively exchange" , "Series of clever replies" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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