Dad’s opinion is the one that matters most forWales star Faletau
TAULUPE Faletau has made it crystal clear he couldn’t care less what the likes of Zinzan Brooke have to say about him.
But there is one person’s opinion he values above all – his dad’s.
Kiwi great Brooke hit the headlines last month when he said Faletau lacked the “mongrel edge” to worry the All Blacks.
He went on to say he had “reservations” about the Wales No 8, suggesting he might get found out on this summer’s Lions trip.
Faletau delivered the perfect response as one of the stand-out performers in the tour-opening victory over the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei on Saturday.
But he was quick to reaffirm afterwards that Brooke’s words had been like water off a duck’s back to him.
“I am not here to answer anybody,” said the former Dragons star. “I am here for the team-mates I take the pitch with, I am here for the squad and I will do everything for them.
“Zinzan said what he wanted to say and you guys can say what you want, I suppose.
“But I am here as myself, I will do the best I can for my team-mates. I will take my judgement from them, rather that what anybody else says outside.
“It’s definitely the opinion of the players around me that really matters to me, the coaches and my family.
“Everyone else can have their opinion, but I’m not going to take too much notice of them.”
One opinion he certainly takes note of is that of his father, the former Ebbw Vale and Tonga second row Kuli Faletau.
“I speak to my dad before almost every game,” revealed the 26-yearold.
“He tells me one thing or whatnot. We will just talk. I take a lot of advice from him.
“I guess if there’s any critic out there that will affect me, it will be my dad.
“He’s not going to shy away from saying what he wants to say.
“If there’s something he’s not happy with attitudewise or something I’m doing in the game, he will let me know.
“His focus is always on looking at what you can do better.”
Faletau Snr wouldn’t have had too much to take issue with in his son’s performance in Whangarei, where he carried on how he had left off with his late season form for Bath.
He made 11 carries, demonstrating he has regained his dynamic athleticism following a double dose of knee ligament trouble, while he topped the Lions tackle count with 14 hits.
One piece of defensive work in particular stood out as a match highlight, as he denied Inga Finau what looked like a certain try, hauling down the Barbarians centre and turning him on his back over the line.
Faletau was typically modest in describing the incident, saying he was “just tracking back, hoping for the best”.
But it was a superb piece of work amid an all-round class performance from a man who has staked an immediate and significant claim on the Test No.8 jersey.
He is the man in possession in a sense, having worn the shirt in the series clincher against the Wallabies in 2013 and four years on he is relishing his second experience of living with Lions.
“Maybe in a way I’m definitely more excited this time around,” he said.
“Obviously it’s against New Zealand and it will be tough. I’m just excited to be here and looking forward to the games ahead.
“I think it’s just a case of appreciating the position I am in. It doesn’t come around for everybody. I just need to appreciate that and take the chances I get to play.”