'Goat' Faletau can still do it for Wales - Mulder
Cardiff's camp pay tribute to "the goat" Taulupe Faletau as the Wales veteran prepares to face Sharks.
Taulupe Faletau's most recent international appearance came against Japan in July 2025 [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Sometimes it can be hard to get players to talk about team-mates, even when it is to praise them. 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.
" Botham returns as Cardiff shuffle pack for Sharks Ex-Wales and Lions full-back Williams retires Wales flanker Mann signs new Cardiff contract 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.