NATIONS2017 Back-row numbers don’t add up right for Faletau
even though mad.
“It is nice to have a change,” said Faletau. “We have made the move over and it’s such a wonderful place with wonderful people.
“Bath is a rugby town, but they seem to leave you alone. In Wales, you get a bit more attention.”
Wales assistant coach Robin McBryde will be part of the brains’ trust charged with picking the team but he admits the coaching staff are in a no-win situation having to leave out one of Warburton, Moriarty, Tipuric and Faletau.
“A lot of it is in the mix. I know Shaun Edwards will have an input from a defensive point of view; Alex King and Rob from an attacking point of view. They tend to ignore what I say from a set-piece point of view,” said McBryde.
“We are blessed with all those names in the hat, as well as James King. They all offer quite a bit at lineout time and the city is rugby at scrum time. It is a very keenly contested area and no doubt we will get it wrong.”
Johnny Sexton, meanwhile, is expected to be fit for Ireland’s clash with France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The Leinster fly-half has not featured in this year’s Six Nations because of a calf injury but is due to take a full part in training today.
“Hopefully when he comes through that, he will be fine for the weekend,” said Ireland team manager Paul Dean.
Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray and full-back Rob Kearney, who suffered thigh and biceps injuries respectively in the 63-10 bonus-point victory over Italy, are also on schedule to be fit for the France clash.