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TAULUPE FALETAU is not used to coming in under the radar but the Wales No8 is doing just that at Bath and could be doing the same against Scotland on Saturday.

Four into three does not go and Wales stand-in coach Rob Howley has to do the mathematically impossible to keep back-rowers Faletau, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty all happy when they play the Scots at Murrayfield.

Faletau, a man who is talked about in the same terms as the great Mervyn Davies, would be a certainty for most starting line-ups even if he is short of a gallop but the indications are that Wales will stick rather than twist.

That would mean another stint on the bench for Faletau, who got through a full match for Bath last weekend for the first time since December.

The 26-year-old, who has been capped 64 times, moved to the West Country club at the start of the season after seven years at Newport Gwent Dragons, but managed only five starts before Christmas because of a knee injury.

Another knee knock meant he missed Wales’ Six Nations opener against Italy and was only on the bench in their second game against England before coming on for Moriarty, who had put in a staggering 53-minute shift.

Faletau played 80 minutes for his club against Harlequins on Saturday and came through the match with a clean bill of health. But he admits Moriarty, who started and starred at No 8 against England, is hassling him for his position in the run-on XV.

“Ross is playing really well at the moment, and so are the other two,” he said. “We work for each other, whoever plays is worthy of playing and those three right now are playing really well.

“I am just glad to be out there playing rugby again. It hasn’t been the season for it. I was just glad to get 80 minutes at the weekend.

“It has been frustrating, but injuries are part of the game and I have got to deal with it some time. They come around for everyone and it has just seemed to be my time.”

Faletau is out of the goldfish bowl that is Welsh rugby and can stroll around Bath without getting pestered by supporters