By Graham Thomas
Taulupe Faletau is not ready to give up on his dream of once again playing for Wales and is targeting a return to action in the United Rugby Championship with Cardiff at the end of October.
That would give him an outside shot of convincing Warren Gatland he is ready to return to the Test arena and add to his 104 Welsh caps in the Autumn Nations Series.
The first of Wales’ three games is against Fiji on Sunday, 10 November – two days before his 34th birthday.
After breaking his arm against Georgia at last year’s World Cup, he lasted half-an-hour in his latest return for Cardiff against Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium in late April.
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This time it was fractured shoulder that required more surgery.
“The last injury was nuts. I was trying to seal off the ruck, somebody cleared me out and that was that,” said Faletau.
“I’ve watched games since and it’s nuts how it happens. Even with the amount of time I’ve missed I still think I’ve got something to prove and a lot more to give.
“There is definitely still a hunger within me to play for Wales – I hope I can get back, and I feel I can.
“Warren (Gatland) popped into training at Cardiff a couple of weeks ago and we had a brief chat, but there was nothing further than just talking about the next month or so.
“The main thing is getting back on the pitch, that’s where you can make a difference. If you are not on there, you’ve got no hope.
“The main aim is to get back out on the pitch with Cardiff, stay fit and give the season a good go.
“I’m still trying to get my full range of movement back in the shoulder.
“But we have finally put a date on it and pencilled in the end of October. It depends on the physios, and maybe it will be even earlier if they’re happy.”
Ironically, Cardiff host Ulster at the Arms Park on 28 October in the last game in the first block of six games in the URC.
That would give Faletau one outing before Wales face Fiji, Australia a week later and then the world champions Springboks in their final game of the autumn.
With Aaron Wainwright still attempting to get back after surgery on his hamstring injury, Gatland could certainly do with having the man he first capped in 2011 back in his squad as he tries to end a nine match losing streak.
Faletau still believes he can make another Lions tour next summer – which would the back row forward’s fourth – but has admitted the second half of his career has been far more troubled with injuries than his first.
“When I look back now, the first 70 caps were easy enough and then the whole thing changed. I can’t really put my finger on what’s different.
“Maybe the collisions are bigger now. Everyone tells me that. But when I look back at those first games, they look pretty physical to me.
“When I had my first few injuries, I just got on with it. And then, when they happened one after another, I found myself reflecting on it a bit more.
“After my calf injury, I had a few knee injuries at Bath. I then injured my collarbone and I think I kind of lost my way a little bit after all those setbacks.
“The setbacks derailed me for a while, but I’m managing things better now.”
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