Taulupe Faletau has never been short of belief in Wales – so he reckons this could be a big month for the rugby and football teams. Asked how he thinks Robert Page’s men might do at the World Cup in Qatar, the Wales No.8 says: “Well, hopefully, they’ll bring it back! “You have to have a bit of belief along the way. They left from the Vale (Resort) and we were around so we gave them a little wave to show our support.”

Taulupe Faletau will celebrate his 32nd birthday this weekend and he’d love a win over the Pumas to make it an extra-special day.  Looking further forward, erasing the bitter memory of the injuries that forced him to miss the 2019 World Cup by going to France next year would be another item high on his birthday wish list. Health permitting, that looks likely, although after an injury ravaged six years at Bath, he isn’t taking anything for granted.

Max Llewellyn insists he will take the various pats on the back and predictions of Wales caps – but won’t lose focus on his day job at Cardiff. The strapping centre had been making a powerful case for his inclusion in Wayne Pivac’s squad for the autumn internationals on the back of his power-packed impact at the Arms Park. In the end, Pivac took a different route to the one suggested by former Wales centre Tom Shanklin and others and did not include Llewellyn in his autumn squad.

Taulupe Faletau insists Wales are better than their results would have us believe and reckons the proof will come next season. The Wales No.8 claims 2023 – which includes a World Cup as well as a Six Nations – will see Wales revert to being a team that wins close games rather than loses them. The Lions star produced a familiar world class display which almost proved enough to deny Grand Slam-seeking France in a raucous Cardiff on Friday night before Les Bleus edged home, 13-9.

By David Williams Josh Navidi and Taulupe Faletau look set to be reunited in Wales’ back row for the Guinness Six Nations clash against France on Friday. They have not played a Test match together since Wales saw their Grand Slam dream ended by France in Paris almost a year ago. Number eight Faletau returned […]

Wales look set to start the defence of their Guinness Six Nations title without top-choice No.8 Taulupe Faletau. The triple British & Irish Lions tourist hasn’t played since returning from South Africa in the summer and is still undergoing rehab on his damaged ankle. Bath head coach Stuart Hooper, whose side has yet to win in the Premiership or Europe this season, is desperate to get the 31-year-old back in action, but still doesn’t know when that will be.

By Tom Prosser Taulupe Faletau says he is “looking forward” to returning to Welsh regional rugby after agreeing to join Cardiff Rugby from Bath. The 30-year-old will remain at Bath for the rest of the season and will then return to Wales after completing a five-year stint across the border. Faletau has been a dominant force at number eight since bursting onto the international scene in 2011.

By Paul Jones Seven Welsh players have been included in a strong Lions line-up that appears to resemble a shadow Test side as the tourists prepare to face South Africa A on Wednesday. Lions coach Warren Gatland has included Louis-Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams and Dan Biggar in his back line, with Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Josh […]

Wayne Pivac insists he has no fears over Taulupe Faletau’s staying power after choosing not to rest the Wales No.8 in Italy this weekend. Faletau has featured in every Wales game so far in their unbeaten Six Nations campaign, as well as representing Bath in the two break weeks. But Wales coach Pivac – who has made only two changes to the team that beat England to clinch the Triple Crown a fortnight ago – says Faletau is “economical” with his exertions when he goes back to play for his club.

Wales flanker Justin Tipuric insists his Triple Crown chasers are level-headed ahead of their showdown against England on Saturday. “We know we haven’t been playing at the top of our game and we know we have got a lot to improve on.” says the Ospreys captain. “We are not a perfect team, but we are still winning games which shows we’re doing something right.

Taulupe Faletau insists a win over England at Twickenham would help but not define Wales’ Six Nations campaign. Defeats against Ireland and France have left hopes of a successful title defence in tatters for Wales, who play England on March 7. Last year’s Grand Slam winners last won a Six Nations game at Twickenham in 2012, but Faletau says they will not be short of motivation.

The World Cup starts next week and after another Grand Slam season optimism is in the air across the nation. But, wait . . . here’s our brooding columnist Robin Davey – the Prince of Pessimism – to find plenty of dark clouds on the horizon. Wales have landed in Japan – where they have a date with their World Cup destiny – amid real concerns, not to say grave doubts, about how they will perform. For they were beaten in three of their four World Cup warm-up matches, once fairly comfortably by England at Twickenham before conceding the double at the hands of Ireland.