Faletau in Six Nations sweat

BATH and Wales face an anxious wait over the fitness of No8 Taulupe Faletau, who went off injured in Saturday’s 24-20 Champions Cup defeat at Toulon.

Faletau, right, was replaced after 48 minutes with a knee injury when he was cleared out by Mathieu Bastareaud, who looked like he entered the ruck illegally. The 27-year-old Faletau missed two chunks of last season, three months in total, with ligament trouble, his absence including the first part of the Six Nations.

Wales can ill afford to lose Faletau with Sam Warburton out, while Bath could do with him in the home rematch with Toulon on Saturday.

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder said: “He has tweaked a medial. It does not look good for next week anyway.”

Bath also felt hard done by after Toulon were awarded their opening try when centre Ma’a Nonu was the grateful recipient of a block by his prop Florian Fresia which stopped the visitors tackling him. Replacement fly-half Anthony Belleau went over for Toulon’s winning try four minutes from time, leaving Bath with a losing bonus point. Captain Matt Garvey said: “To come so close is tough but we’re encouraged for next week.”

Northampton slipped to a ninth loss in 10 games with a 43-32 defeat by the Ospreys and the pressure is on director of rugby Jim Mallinder, whose side were 43-8 down at one point.

At Thomond Park, Leicester lost full-back Telusa Veainu with a broken jaw and went down 33-10 to Munster.

Tigers need to win Sunday’s return or face an early European exit.