Page 24 - Blues v The Lions

A rampaging Faletau is brought down by Hika Elliott as as Wales take on on the Chiefs in Hamilton last year
even with Vunipola out of contention it’s far from easy for Faletau “It’s very very tough ” he he admits “The squad is very very good – – it’s it’s outstanding in in in fact – – and and it’s it’s going to to be really hard to to get a a a a a a a a spot in in in that team The back row is de nitely one of the strong points too ” Faletau is a a a a a a a a player who loves to to run with the ball and opposition halfbacks can expect a a a a a a a a a a torrid time as he he he he regularly tops the stats charts when it comes
to to carries and defenders beaten – perhaps a a a a a a more tting statistic would
be ‘Defenders trounced into the the the ground’ It’s of of little surprise then when the the the loose forward reveals one of of his
New Zealand heroes “I used to love watching watching Jonah Lomu ying down the wing ” Faletau says “I think watching watching him at at the the Rugby World Cup in in in in 1999 was probably the the the rst time I really took notice of the the the All Blacks and realised what a a a a a a big rugby nation they were ” departed Still as as as close as as as brothers Faletau was among the the the rst to message Billy when the the the news broke “I dropped him him a a a text and then spoke to him him brie y y y y ” he he he explains “but there’s not really a a a a a lot you can say I couldn’t
come up with the words But he’ll be back on his
feet in no time I’m sure It’s a a a a huge blow for us though ” Losing a a a a a a a a player of Billy Vunipola’s class would
be be a a a a a a a a a blow for any squad but Faletau is of course being modest The battle for the Lions No 8 jersey was always going to be immense and and with Vunipola and and Faletau nding form in in in in perfect time for for the the tour – – having both had spells on the the the sideline with injury – – even the the the critics would
be be split as to who should be be be rst choice Fitting them both into the the the back row could even have been an intriguing prospect for for the the Lions – not to mention a a a a worrying one for for New Zealand No 10s “The playing standard and and and the power and and and pace they play at is going to to make it tough for us in in every game ” Instead Faletau is left to ght it it out with fellow Welsh back rower Ross Moriarty who enjoyed a a a a a superb Six Nations and Vunipola’s replacement James Haskell
whom New Zealand fans will not only know from his
his
England time but also his
his
spell at the the Highlanders Throw into the the mix CJ Stander of Ireland
and and and and 24 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME