Taulupe Faletau is loving being back out on the pitch for both club and country.
That is certainly good news for Cardiff and Wales and is likely to cause increasing problems for their opponents. When the 106-times capped No 8 starts really enjoying himself on the pitch then good things happen for the team he is playing for.
That was certainly the case in Wales’ last outing against Ireland when he was back in the groove with a team high 15 carries. That followed him topping the tackle charts for Wales in Italy, as well as making the most metres (56).
Next, he hopes to have the Scots in his sights as Wales seek to build on their encouraging performance against the Irish two weeks ago.
“The last few games have been good, and the one against Ireland was fun to be a part of. I didn’t think I’d be here at the start of January,” admitted Faletau.
“It has been frustrating with all the injuries I’ve suffered, but you just have to keep rolling and crack on. You just hope things come good.
“I’ve never thought about quitting. Doing the rehab my body felt good, so it was a case of getting the injury right itself and it’s been fine.”
Now 34, and with more than a century of Welsh caps to his name to go with five Tests for the British & Irish Lions on three tours to date, he is one of the modern day legends of Welsh rugby.
He formed one of the most successful Welsh back rows of all time with his former Dragons teammate Dan Lydiate and Sam Warburton, playing 30 times together for Wales and once in a tour match with the Lions, but is now enjoying new partnerships with the likes of Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright and James Botham.
“Sometimes when I see a number of my old playing mates retiring, I wonder if that’s a little hint for me to call it a day. But I still feel I can keep up with the young guns,” he added.
“I’m still trying to get my head around the fact I’m one of the oldest guys in the squad. Looking around, a lot of the boys now are a lot younger than me.”
“I just try to be myself and mix in with the boys. Just looking around the room, everybody is in their early 20s and I’m 34.”