GLOBAL great No 8s Scott Quinnell and Zinzan Brooke have hailed record breaker Toby Faletau as one of the finest in the game and a player who at only 20 can hold his Wales position down for the next decade.

Faletau now holds a unique place in Welsh rugby history. For today against Australia marks his seventh start in the World Cup which breaks the record previously held by Paul Thorburn, Adrian Hadley and Paul Moriarty set in the first World Cup in 1987.

Wales have never played seven matches before in the World Cup and Faletau is the only player to start them all in New Zealand. He has been on the field a total of 430 minutes before today during the tournament at an average of 71 minutes a game.

He is Wales’ youngest forward – only George North is a younger player in the squad - and has also made more tackles than any other Welsh player. He is also their most prolific ball carrier.

“He’s been magnificent, absolutely amazing,” said Quinnell, capped 52 times for Wales and three times for the Lions at No 8.

“If you look at his performances he has played consistently well, from the try he scored against South Africa he has consistently carried ball and made his tackles.

“There’s a wonderful balance in the back row with Faletau, Dan Lydiate and Sam Warburton, three players who complement each other in all aspects of the game. I’m just excited that this could be the Wales back row for the next ten years.”

And Brooke, an All Blacks legend, joined in the adulation young Faletau is receiving in New Zealand.

“Toby is an exciting young talent up there alongside Kieran Read (All Blacks) and Imanol Harinordoquy (France) in this tournament,” he said.

“Toby may be only 20, but he has proved he can handle himself and he seems immune e to the pressure that is put on his shoulders.

“In the semi-final against France Wales lost their anchor man Sam Warburton, but Toby demonstrated he has it with his go forward and his energy which is very encouraging for the future.”

While Faletau and company prepare for another test of their burgeoning quality, 34-year-old Wales wing Shane Williams will make his final World Cup appearance.

Whether or not it will be a last Test match outing before he retires from the international game remains to be seen, but he has relished every moment of Wales’ World Cup campaign.

“I am getting to the age where I am looking around and I’m getting depressed just looking at these guys and looking at their dates of birth,’’ he said. “You could swear some of them have been playing for 20-odd years with the experience they’ve shown on the field.

“We came into this World Cup thinking we were capable of big things, and it is probably the first time I’ve gone into a major tournament with a Welsh team so confident.

“I would love to be able to play at home (Wales meet Australia in Cardiff on December 3) and have the chance to have my family and friends there… but we will have to wait and see.”

- For more insights and analysis from the Heineken ambassadors into Rugby World Cup 2011 visit www.thisisthegame.com