'Goat' Faletau can still do it for Wales - Mulder
· Yahoo Sports
Sometimes it can be hard to get players to talk about team-mates, even when it is to praise them.
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Not so with Cardiff scrum-half Johan Mulder when the subject is Taulupe Faletau.
"He's definitely the goat (greatest of all time)," said Mulder, who does not hesitate in his assessment of the 35-year-old.
"He's one of the best to ever do it in the eighth man position. I absolutely love playing with him.
"He brings so much to the team. He brings confidence. He gets us over the advantage line. His skillset… incredible."
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Wales forward Faletau, 35, will play for Cardiff against Sharks in Durban on Friday (17:00 GMT), his first start since New Year's Day and only his fourth of the season.
Cardiff head to Kings Park looking to respond after last weekend's heavy defeat by Bulls, with eight changes to the side.
Faletau's return comes after another spell on the sidelines, with a calf problem following a knee injury that ruled him out of Wales' autumn campaign.
And with those injuries, it is easy to forget how long he has been around.
Faletau made his Wales debut 15 years ago and was part of a formidable back row alongside Dan Lydiate and Sam Warburton.
It has been eight years since Warburton retired, but Faletau is still playing and still drawing admiration from team-mates.
Mulder sees it up close.
"His pick-up from the base of a scrum is incredible. He's got so much explosive power," Mulder said.
"Offloads… I almost always know to be on his shoulder and to expect the ball. Sometimes I don't even think he'll get it away and he still gets it there."
And Mulder reckons Faletau still has the ability to compete at Test level.
"I definitely believe so," he said.
Wales now have other options. Aaron Wainwright was one of their standout performers during the Six Nations, underlining the depth available in the back row.
That may mean Faletau is no longer an automatic selection, but Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl believes he still has a role to play.
"He brings the best out of the rest of the team as well, but managing his workload will be key," he said.
"There will be a little bit of restrictions. I can't see that he'll be playing a lot of games consecutively. But you can add value to any team he plays for."
Van Zyl also has no concerns about Faletau's drive.
"I've got no doubts on his motivation to play for the team. No doubts."
Cardiff will need him close to his best against an in-form Sharks side who thumped Munster 45-0 last weekend.
And if Cardiff are to get anything out of their trip to Kings Park, Faletau has the kind of quality that can make the difference.