IT’S just over 20 years since Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’ was released, a masterpiece that is frequently given the honour as the greatest album of all time.

But then, so is ‘Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band’ while ‘The Queen is Dead’ was even lauded as the best by one publication in 2013.

Just like the Messi/Ronaldo Conundrum, there is no definitive answer.

It all comes down to taste, time and the moment; ‘Definitely Maybe’ will always mean more to people of my vintage despite some sneers.

But those mentioned at the top of such lists generally deserve it and then it comes down to a matter of personal choice. Take your pick and argue your case down the pub.

And when it comes down to who is the greatest rugby player to have come from Gwent, we currently have an individual who isn’t out of place with some titans of the game.

Taulupe Faletau would naturally hate to hear such praise, but the modest former Dragons number eight is worthy of being listed alongside the likes of Dai Watkins, Ken Jones, Arthur ‘Monkey’ Gould, Bryn Meredith, Graham Price, Bobby Windsor, Charlie Faulkner, Brian Price, Clive Burgess.

I’m sure to have missed somebody’s favourite out (that merely proves my point, it’s all about personal preference) but we have already reached the stage where the 26-year-old from Pontypool is a giant of Gwent rugby with plenty left in the tank.

Of course this is nothing new, Faletau had earned that honour before he swapped Rodney Parade for the Rec last summer.

But the number eight already has an incredible rugby CV with, injury permitting, so much more to come. He has gone from being among the best of Gwent to being among the VERY best.

With 66 caps to his name, Faletau will surely become the first Gwent player to bring up a century with Wales (Jamie Roberts may be Newport-born but he’s a Cardiff man) while he should add to his tally of a Grand Slam, a Six Nations title and two World Cups.

He was unlucky to only feature in the series clincher against Australia for the Lions four years ago but started all three Tests against the All Blacks this summer, scoring the crucial first try in the win in Wellington and producing some marvellous moments to add to his reputation.

Faletau will be 30 when the Lions tour South Africa in 2021, an age that Kieran Read, Louis Picamoles and Sergio Parisse suggest is a number eight’s pomp.

He has already got the lot – an incredible work rate, fantastic footwork, soft hands, strong carrying, a turn of pace, a terrific rugby brain – and just like Sam Warburton has that wonderful knack of bringing the best out of those around him.

It’s at this stage that you wish he was still playing for the Dragons but we were lucky to have so many seasons out of a world class performer.

He is by some distance the best player that I have seen play for the region, and that list includes some pretty special individuals in Dan Lydiate, Luke Charteris, Ian Gough…

It was only natural that he fancied a change of scene to try and achieve club honours at big-spending Bath, who will be in the mix in the English Premiership and playing in the Champions Cup this season. We can just dream of a Rodney Parade return in years to come.

It will always be impossible to compare what Faletau has achieved with the dual-code magic of Dai Watkins, a man whose feats live primarily in the memories of supporters rather than in the video archives.

But we are lucky enough to witness first-hand the continuing ascent of a player who will be talked about in similar reverence to the Gwent titans in decades to come.

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IT may be the Kings and the Cheetahs that are set for Europe but perhaps it would be more appropriate if one of the South African teams heading our way was the Sharks given the desperation of Guinness PRO12 chiefs.

Anxieties caused by the financial clout of the English Premiership and France’s Top 14 have forced the league to frantically pursue anything with a pulse.

North America has been mentioned, so has Georgia, there was talk about London Welsh and London Scottish but now it will be South Africa that will be added to teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy (although assurances have been needed over the future of Zebre).

PRO12 chiefs have been hunting with increasing desperation for some time and it has been clear that something needs to change; they need to bring in more cash to stay relevant.

They obviously believe they have to gamble and there is little point in grumbling about the English and French having vibrant, intense leagues with rich owners happy to write off losses.

Now the PRO12 bigwigs need to make the South African introduction work and, while the current 12 teams will be delighted with an extra £500,000, I have serious doubts over such radical changes to the competition.

Super Rugby itself has shown about the perils of expansion and a confusing format.

There will be the initial novelty factor of going up against the Kings or Cheetahs but there will be travel factors that make getting to Galway or Parma seem like a trip to the Spar while it’s questionable whether the pair will dramatically add to the quality of the competition.

Time will tell and we have the tendency to downplay the quality of the rugby in the PRO12.

However, I fear the South African expansion will only serve to make our eyes a deeper green as we look east over the border.