Toby taking nothing for granted

Published: Tuesday, 27. September, 2011 in category Northern Hemishere
Faletau: Refusing to get carried away

The Dragons ace has started all three games at the Rugby World Cup so far, scoring twice to help move Wales towards a place in the quarter-finals.

However despite his personal success, the 20-year-old is remaining grounded, particularly as Wales have a crucial pool game against Fiji still to go.

Faletau, who crossed for a try in the 81-7 win over Namibia, said: "You cannot take anything for granted.

"You just have to train hard and try to play well. There is competition throughout the side, and some of the boys that started (against Namibia) stepped up.

"I am happy to play through every game if that's what they want. You don't get to play in World Cups much.

"A number of things we tried came off, but we still have areas to work on.

"Fiji always chuck the ball around, so that will be a threat we will have to keep an eye on."

Faletau's fellow back-rower Ryan Jones, meanwhile, has revealed that injury almost destroyed his World Cup dream for the second tournament in succession.

Jones finally made his World Cup debut against Namibia, but he feared the worst after a persistent calf muscle problem threatened an early departure from New Zealand.

"Personally, it is a relief that I have played in a World Cup and I survived 80 minutes," said Jones, who was also ruled out of the 2007 World Cup by injury.

"It has been a very emotional week for me. It was only 10 days ago that I was verging on going home on a plane. That was tough.

"But the medical staff have been fantastic and the coaching team gave me an opportunity. Hopefully, I have been able to repay it and maybe I will get a chance to do it again.

"It was really special. Playing in a World Cup is something I have always aspired to do and dreamt of."