Left out of the Nations Championship squad, Taulupe Faletau still has a route back into Wales' World Cup plans, says head coach Steve Tandy.
Taulupe Faletau's international story is not finished. Wales head coach Steve Tandy insists the veteran back-rower remains a genuine contender for the next World Cup, even though he has missed out on the Nations Championship squad.
The omission raised eyebrows. Faletau has been one of the most reliable and decorated forwards of his generation, and his name has long been among the first on a Welsh team sheet. Tandy's message is that being left out of one squad does not mean being written off for the bigger prize.
For Faletau, that leaves a clear target. The drive that has carried him through multiple World Cup cycles is still there, and he will want to use the months ahead to prove his place at the top level is not up for debate.
Wales are in a period of change under Tandy, balancing fresh talent against hard-earned experience. How Faletau fits into that mix will be one of the stories to follow as the road to the World Cup takes shape.
