Taulupe Faletau’s Fitness in Doubt for Wales’ Six Nations Opener
Wales faces uncertainty as Taulupe Faletau’s knee injury puts his Six Nations debut at risk
Taulupe Faletau, Wales, Six Nations, France, Cardiff, Injury
James Botham is also dealing with a neck issue, and Josh Adams has a groin niggle, but it looks like he’ll be fine for the tournament. All three players will sit out the upcoming game against Connacht, leaving the team short-handed with 15 players injured.
Warren Gatland is feeling the heat, especially with Faletau’s situation. Cardiff’s coach, Matt Sherratt, isn’t too optimistic about Faletau being ready for the January 31 opener. He mentioned that it’s really “touch and go” for Faletau, who’s just getting some physio and strength training this week.
Faletau’s been out of the national squad since breaking his arm in a World Cup match against Georgia last October. Even though he was named in the 34-man squad for the Six Nations, his injury could mean Aaron Wainwright steps in to fill the gap.
Both Adams and Botham won’t play against Connacht, but Sherratt thinks Adams could have played if it was necessary. He’s just dealing with a little discomfort after a busy period of games.
Both players have worked hard to get back from injuries, and their return is a big boost for the team. If Faletau can’t play, they might look to Taine Plumtree or Josh Macleod as possible replacements.
Wales has missed Faletau for over a year since he got injured in the World Cup. Without him, they struggled in the quarter-finals against Argentina and went on to lose all their Test matches in 2024.
Faletau’s comeback journey has been tough, with injuries holding him back. He’s shown he’s still got it, and Gatland really needs his experience to help turn things around for Wales.