CHRIS KIRWAN: Clock already ticking for Newport Gwent Dragons chiefs to make Rodney Parade return possible from Bath for fantastic Faletau

One of the greatest to have ever played at Rodney Parade will be plying his trade over the border in the Aviva Premiership.

That Bath have signed a world class player has never been in doubt and the number eight providing another reminder of that with a quite astonishing performance at Eden Park last weekend.

Faletau was to the fore in a performance that, while not enough against the world champions, was as encouraging as the second string’s loss to the Chiefs was disheartening.

The number eight has been so consistently excellent since arriving on the Test scene in 2011 that his under-par performances, such as against Italy before last year’s World Cup and versus England last month, raise eyebrows.

We’ve got used to Faletau brilliance and such is his importance to Warren Gatland’s team that the head coach must be caught in two minds about his imminent move to Bath.

In terms of player development he could flourish from being exposed to a vibrant league and new culture, even if it is only down the road.

But equally, Bath will want their pound of flesh from Faletau in a competition that will see them play bruising encounters with 11 rivals, including geographical ‘enemies’ Bristol and Gloucester and traditional foes Leicester.

Such rigours will no doubt ensure that Faletau is offered a national dual contract by the Welsh Rugby Union when his deal at the Rec is coming to an end… and the Dragons need to make sure they are in a position to have him back.

The manner of his move midway through last season is still a cause of resentment for the Rodney Parade faithful, who feel that their hero would still be in Newport had there been a little bit more effort from the WRU.

That mood hasn’t exactly been helped by the NDCs handed out to a load of fringe players and the transfer fee paid to bring Bradley Davies back to the country with the Ospreys from Wasps.

But I’m pretty sure that the governing body will be prepared to break the bank to secure Faletau’s return from Bath and the Dragons have to make sure that the Pontypool-raised superstar heads home.

Easier said than done and must be said that the close-season activity has not exactly whetted the appetite after a hugely disappointing 2015/16.

Hopefully the Dragons will have some luck with injuries next term and a few of their solid if unspectacular signings will prove to be as astute as that of Adam Warren last summer.

But the tone will be set off the field and two months ago, in the week building up to the stunning European Challenge Cup win against Gloucester, chief executive Stuart Davies outlined their hunt for new benefactors.

If they can succeed then it could really be a game-changer at Rodney Parade but the heat is really on because the Dragons desperately need that effort to bear fruit to stop us fearing the same old, same old.

Because as things stand there would be huge doubt over the WRU paying big bucks to put Faletau back at the Dragons, who won just four Guinness Pro12 games last season.

The number eight has always been happy at Rodney Parade but after experiencing life at Bath, who it must be said had a shocker of a season themselves in 2015/16, he may not fancy a return.

The terms of the Rugby Services Agreement between the governing body and the Pro Rugby Wales quartet state that a player should go back to his ‘region of origin’ but would you blame Faletau if he followed the lead of his back row pal Dan Lydiate, who chose to join the Ospreys on his return from Racing 92.

Faletau made his Dragons debut in November, 2009 and after finishing above the Scarlets in that first season the 25-year-old avoided the tag of Wales’ worst just one more time (Cardiff Blues last year) while he hasn’t played in the elite European competition since 2011 (a wait that will go on because of Bath’s travails).

The Dragons board have declared that they want to inject some fresh blood; if they can’t make it happen over the next year then one fears seriously fears Faletau playing elsewhere in Wales.

That would make the pain of him turning out in Bath colours feel like a pinprick.

IT was inevitable that the blame game would be played in the aftermath of Wales’ shocking midweek performance against the Chiefs.

The positivity that surrounded their first Test display against the All Blacks, when they were true to their promise to give things a crack, dissipated after an incredibly demoralising midweek fixture.

A summer 5-0 whitewash now seems inevitable; nothing is impossible in sport but a Test win in New Zealand would make Leicester City’s Premier League triumph seem like a routine win for Tiger Woods in his pomp or another title for Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

But losing to the world champions is one thing, being hammered by a Super Rugby side without their stars is another.

The Hamilton defeat was alarming because as individuals most of that XV could slot into the first team and do a job, as was proved by Tyler Morgan at the World Cup.

There were no novices, nobody selected should have seen a Test jersey as out of reach.

Therefore the players must take their portion of the blame, as do the management after such a lamentable outing where Wales were outthought and came up short in terms of skills.

Of course, the basics are not only honed on international duty, so there have been some fingers pointed at the Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons for failing to hit the heights in the Guinness Pro12 and Europe.

There have even been those blaming the very regional system that has previously produced great success during the reign of Gatland.

But while it’s wise not to overreact to one chastening night in Waikato, perhaps we are only now seeing the results of the spat between the Welsh Rugby Union and the regions.

The quartet warned that they were being financially starved by the governing body and the result is that the players that back up the first XV are not of sufficient class to come in en bloc and have suffered from not learning and developing alongside seasoned quality.

So plenty must take their portion of the blame… although it’s important not to overreact to one horror show.