Page 22 - 3rd Test

Faletau’s strong carries are just one reason he’s among the the rst picked for Wales and the the Lions
in our back row I’ve played a a a a a lot of my rugby with Sam Warburton he’s an an an amazing leader for us and over the whole tour Sean O’Brien has been a a a a a a a a standout gure too It’s an an exciting team to to be be a a a a a a a a a a part of ”
Faletau won his rst Wales cap against the Barbarians in in 2011 and quickly secured selection for that year’s Rugby World Cup He has has barely looked back since and and and has has a a a a a a a a a a grand total
of 69 Test caps and and and eight tries
“The fact we get to to run out to to warm up and it it feels like it’s
a a home game is incredible ”
to his name His all-action style has made him a a a a a a a a a a rm favourite of Gatland and and and consecutive Six Nations titles in 2012 and and and 2013 – – the rst of those with a a a a a a a a a a a Grand Slam – – earmarked Faletau as a a a a a a a a a a a a a star star in in the the the making He started the the the nal Test of the the the successful 2013 Lions
trip to Australia and has played the the full 80 minutes in in both of of the the rst two Tests of this tour Whatever happens tonight at at Eden Park Faletau and and the Lions
will be backed by thousands of of travelling Lions
fans A sea of of red dominated the Westpac Stadium in in in Wellington last weekend and something similar is expected once again The support Faletau says is invaluable “It’s unbelievable I I literally cannot put into words what the support means to to to to us ”
he he he says “The fact we get to to to run out to to to warm up and it it feels like it’s
a a a a a home game is incredible You can’t replace the the the effort they put in in to make the the the the trip down here It has cost them a a a a a a a a a lot of money and we really appreciate that because for us us it’s
priceless To see a a a a a a a a a load of red in in the the stands and and hear them chanting ‘Maro Itoje’
is awesome It’s 100 per cent
a a a a a a massive boost to us and we we can’t thank them enough ”
rst batch of of players to meet up in in Cardiff in in the the middle of of May nearly two months later they’re on on on the verge of history 66
TEST CAPS FOR WALES
35 TEST POINTS FOR WALES
20AGEAT INTERNATIONAL
2DEBUT This has been a a a a a a a long trip for the the Lions
Faletau was among the the SIX NATIONS TITLES
For everyone involved a a a a Series win would be a a a a a a a truly remarkable success and for Faletau especially tonight’s deciding game will be extra special special His partner Charlotte Rhys-Jones and son Israel will be in in the the crowd this evening for the the rst time “Israel won’t know what’s going 2 on on but it will be really special for me to have him and Charlotte there ”
Faletau says “It’s a a a a a a a a a a big night with a a a a a a a a lot on the the the line and a a a a a a a a Series win would mean everything to the the the players the the the squad and everybody involved with the the Lions
We’ll be giving it it our all to to come out on on top and hopefully Israel will see his dad put in a a a a a big performance ”
TAULUPE FALETAU BY THE NUMBERS
20 TONGAN CAPS FOR HIS
FATHER KULI
TRIES AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS
22 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
GETTY IMAGES