Rugby World Cup: Faletau's age belies success

Toby Faletau's diligence has brought success. Photo / Getty Images

In the Welsh campaign at this World Cup there have been several stories and careers to emerge, with that of Toby Faletau hard to beat.

The rookie No8 has played in every match at the tournament, more than tripling his number of total test caps (now at nine), after only making his debut in June this year. He seems unflustered by the attention and the pressure and is a key component of the youthful back row that has matched South Africa, Samoa, Fiji and Ireland.

"Sometimes it feels like a bit of a dream," admits Faletau, "It has been a great experience so far and Sam [Warburton], Dan [Lydiate] and I get along great."

"Toby is unbelievable," says captain Warburton, the only other Welsh player who has started every match. "He has started every game in this tournament, but he wakes up the next day and he is not even aching. He is very professional, and to play alongside him in the back row has been incredible.

"When I was 20 years old, I would have been in no shape to play No8 in a World Cup ... he is amazing."

Faletau is athletic - he scored tries against South Africa and Namibia - having originally started his career on the wing, but is also a forceful runner and a brutal defender. He has added starch and a youthful exuberance to the Welsh pack in a sudden, swift rise and was impressive again last night.

He was named in the Wales under-20 squad in May last year. By January of 2011 he was in the senior squad, with only injury preventing a possible debut in the Six Nations. Faletau, who idolised Wallabies flanker George Smith as a youngster, eventually made his full debut versus the Barbarians.

In other circumstances he might have played for Tonga. He moved to Wales at the age of 7 when his father Kuli - who represented Tonga at the 1999 World Cup - went to play for Ebbw Vale.

Although he looks Tongan, he speaks with a distinct Welsh accent and says his father has no issue with his choice.

"He's happy about it, says Faletau, "and anyway it has happened in such a short space of time and I didn't have any contact from [Tonga] so now it's just Wales."

Wales' head of strength and conditioning, Adam Beard, says Faletau's transformation from raw talent to thoroughbred athlete happened at a rapid pace.

"You could see he had some natural abilities but he had never gone into an athletic development programme," says Beard. "Being in the national programme opened his eyes a bit - Toby's were some of the poorest scores in our fitness tests. Now some of his fitness scores are right up there and he has probably been the biggest improver in the squad. He has transformed himself in four months and it is all down to his diligence."

After the squad had officially dispersed in June, Beard ran voluntary conditioning sessions.

"I was expecting to get a little core group," says Beard. "Toby took me up on every single session.

"I hoped he would come in for a couple but he attended every single one.

"He is now stronger, fitter, faster and more powerful and it is all down to his hard work."

Toby Faletau

Born: November 12, 1990
Height: 1.88m
Weight: 108 kg

His full Tongan name is Tangaki Taulupe Faletau - he adopted the name Toby in Wales.