IT'S an indication of just how good Taulupe Faletau is that the number eight is sorely missed even when his deputies are excellent.

Wales have had to get used to operating without their back row talisman this season, Bath have not enjoyed his services anywhere near as often as they would have hoped while Newport Gwent Dragons are coming to terms with not having one of the finest players to grace Rodney Parade in their ranks.

Ross Moriarty has been a revelation on the Test scene and is likely to wear 8 on his back in Rome this weekend with Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric either side of him. The Gloucester man is good, very good, but he's not Faletau.

Bath have enjoyed a fine first half of the season with youngster Zach Mercer prospering in the absence of their big-money signing, but they look a different team with Faletau.

The Dragons have had a season of promise at home and frustration away with Ed Jackson producing some strong-running displays and 20-year-old Harri Keddie putting in some lively cameos.

However, they really miss the handful of stellar moments that Faletau produces every game – with him in their side then it's very possible that they'd have won in Worcester or beaten Brive to progress to a third successive Euro quarter-final.

Alas, we now have to console ourselves with being able to enjoy glimpses of the Pontypool-raised back rower in the red of Wales and fingers crossed he will be back to feature against England in Cardiff a week on Saturday.

When on the books of the Dragons, Faletau played in 61 of 69 Tests (two of which were in Japan while he was with the Lions in Australia) following his debut against the Barbarians in 2011.

A knee injury suffered on Bath debut meant that he was only fit enough to feature as a (stunningly good) replacement in the autumn finale against South Africa.

Wales didn't do too badly in his absence with Moriarty continuing to grow on the Test scene but they need Faletau back.

For all the talk of back row riches, only Alun Wyn Jones gets inked on the teamsheet ahead of the former Dragon.

I'm not sure other nations really appreciate just how good he is; I am admittedly biased but would have him down as a shoo-in to tour with the Lions despite the presence of Billy Vunipola, Jamie Heaslip and CJ Stander.

But the Wales management certainly recognise how good he is and know that he is far more important to their desired more expansive gameplan than the dynamic openside Justin Tipuric.

Faletau is a proper Test beast who can mix it physically but still thrive in the wide channels with his great hands, lovely footwork and instinctive game understanding.

He is a phenomenal player who can do the grunt work – hitting rucks, making his tackles, providing good lineout ball – for 80 minutes but also produce moments to get supporters off their seats.

Wales have done well to find a player in Moriarty who has reduced the tail-off when Taulupe is absent but they still need their talisman back if they are to have a Six Nations title tilt.

The fixtures have fallen kindly as they should have enough in Rome but Faletau has to return against England if fit while Sam Warburton is Wales' best flanker.

Rob Howley would then face a Moriarty/Tipuric quandary but there is no dilemma who is best 8.

South Wales Argus:

SADLY mud-flinging is something we have had to get used to when it comes to the Rodney Parade surface and I make no apologies about returning to a subject that is as tired as the pitch in Newport.

Plenty have been slamming the field and I’m afraid if I argued against them it would be like something from ‘Defend the Indefensible’ round on 5Live’s Fighting Talk.

Visiting managers will always be quick to stick the muddy boot into Rodney Parade, especially after defeat, but it’s not necessarily a solution that is needed for next season, more ways of making things more bearable.

There is simply no way of fitting three teams on one pitch and having something resembling the old Wembley turf.

There has to be a bit of compromise because the load needs to be lightened, even if the six-figure drainage work takes place this summer or somehow £1million is found for hybrid ‘Desso’ pitch.

Granted, it’s easy for me to say but the approach from everyone needs to be ‘what can WE do to help’ rather than ‘what should THEY be doing’.

There must also be joined-up thinking, the advice of experts must be heeded and everyone should do everything possible to help the poor souls who are actually out there for ridiculous hours in all weather with their forks.

From the rugby point of view there are at least a handful of fixtures that could be taken elsewhere.

The Dragons’ Anglo-Welsh Cup games could be played in Ystrad Mynach, Cross Keys or Ebbw Vale (granted, a more lucrative tie against Gloucester, Bristol or Bath makes this tricker) while the Black and Ambers could surely find alternative venues for their fixtures in the development Foster’s Challenge Cup.

Newport RFC fans may be fuming at the idea of being forced to play away from their own ground – and perhaps understandably some would fear it being the thin end of the wedge – but it would be an important gesture for what has to be a three-team partnership.

Then maybe the Exiles could ask the English Football League if it was possible to play their Checkatrade Trophy encounters elsewhere as every little helps.

Rules for that tournament state that all matches must “unless otherwise agreed by the League (in its absolute discretion) be played at the venue registered by the home club”, but if you don’t ask…

Investment in the pitch, and Rodney Parade as a whole, will help but money will not provide a magic fix. This isn’t a rugby thing or a football thing, there needs to be compromise from all parties.