Taulupe Faletau is like a vintage high performance car that breaks down occasionally but always seems to be restored to full working order after the mechanics have done their stuff.
The Wales forward had only played six games in almost 18 months, but as soon as the engine is purring again, he is pushed back out on the road.
Despite his limited game time since the 2023 World Cup, Faletau is a contender – albeit probably now an outside one – for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia this summer.
It would be a fourth for the 34-year-old number eight and only those with short memories would rule it out.
“I would be lying if I said ‘no’ about that,” Faletau admitted when asked about his Lions ambitions.
“But the main aim is to get back on the pitch. And once you are on there, all you can do is play your best and everything else will come and go as it will. I will try to play well and see what happens.”
Faletau’s road to recovery has been anything but smooth. A broken arm sustained against Georgia in the World Cup was followed by a fractured shoulder upon his return for Cardiff in April 2024.
For many players, such setbacks might have signaled the end, but Faletau’s enduring commitment to both club and country has never wavered.
Now, he is on course to earn his 107th cap against Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday, a milestone surpassed by only four Welsh legends—Alun Wyn Jones, Gethin Jenkins, George North, and Dan Biggar.
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“At the start of January, I didn’t think I would be here, so it is nice to be here,” said Faletau, who has overcome a knee issue to start Wales’ last two matches.
“You just have to keep rolling, crack on, and just hope things come good.”
Throughout his time on the sidelines, Faletau never entertained the thought of retiring.
“The body felt good, so it was a case of getting the injury right itself. I just had to let the injury itself heal, and that took a little bit longer than expected,” he explained.
You can sometimes judge a player’s influence by what happens when he’s not there.
Since Faletau has been away, Wales have not won a game.
They travel to Edinburgh on the back of 15 consecutive Test defeats.
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Their last win came against Georgia in Nantes, the very match where Faletau sustained his arm injury.
A 22-15 defeat to Italy marked the end of Warren Gatland’s tenure, paving the way for Cardiff’s Matt Sherratt to take charge on an interim basis.
Though Wales fell short against Six Nations frontrunners Ireland, their improved performance has given fans reason for optimism heading into their final fixtures against Scotland and England.
“I work with ‘Jockey’ (Sherratt) at Cardiff, and I really enjoy working with him,” Faletau said.
“I imagined it would be the same for everybody else, and he has had that effect on the whole squad.
“I think everybody was just excited for that Ireland game, and it showed. He just brings a lot of excitement out of everyone, and I feel like he has come in and he has done that.
“He encourages everyone to be brave and just play to spaces. He encourages you to take the opportunities if they are there. It is different and he runs a different system.
“I think ‘Jockey’ is more hands-on. He is out on the pitch coaching, and stuff like that, whereas ‘Gats’ would be managing other coaches to do other things.”
Wales are set to announce an unchanged starting XV for the first time since the 2019 World Cup, with Dewi Lake expected to return to the bench after overcoming an injury.
Sherratt will officially confirm the line-up on Thursday afternoon.
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