Warren Gatland’s Six Nations plans with Wales have been seriously undermined by the broken arm suffered again by Taulupe Faletau.
Gatland had pencilled Faletau in for a rapid return to his squad he is due to name at Tuesday lunchtime, but the coach revealed his bad news at a rugby writers’ dinner held in London on Monday night.
Just two days after seeming to have come through his comeback game unscathed, the Bath and Lions No.8 – arguably Wales’ most important player – has been confirmed as having repeated the injury he first suffered last October.
His second unlucky break could open to the door for Wasps’ Tomas Young to make the squad in a revised back row selection.
Faletau complained of soreness at the weekend on the same arm he fractured in the autumn which put him out of the November internationals.
An X-ray then revealed the Lions star had broken his arm for a second time in three months, meaning he will miss another eight weeks and the entire Six Nations tournament.
The blow comes after Faletau gave a barnstorming return to action for Bath in the Heineken Champions Cup win over Wasps on Saturday.
The 28-year-old looked to be back with a bang at The Recreation Ground, paving the way for one of his side’s tries with a brilliant break and off-load.
Bath director of rugbyTodd Blackadder said the British and Irish Lion “looked really sharp” and backed his man to carry that form back onto the international stage.
Faletau won the last of his 72 Welsh caps in the final round of last year’s Six Nations against France. Later this year he will be hoping to play at his third World Cup in Japan.
He first broke his arm in the English Premiership clash between Bath and Exeter Chiefs in early October. He was injured attempting to tackle England and Lions wing Jack Nowell in the build up to a Chiefs try.
With Ellis Jenkins already ruled out for the season, and Ross Moriarty still revering from concussion Gatland was banking on Faletau making a timely return to international against France in Paris in the championship opener on Friday, 1 February.
It means the New Zealander will be forced into revised plans, although Cardiff Blues flanker Josh Navidi is also expected to return to the squad after missing the autumn Tests with a knee injury.
Dragons back-rower Moriarty has also been sidelined since suffering concussion last month, but has been pencilled in to return in the Guinness PRO14 clash against Munster on January 26.
But Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler (knee) remains out and Blues captain Jenkins is another absentee as he continues his recovery from ACL surgery.
There are plenty of other issue for Gatland to ponder before he names his final Six Nations squad before departing the job.
Leigh Halfpenny looks set to miss the start of the tournament as he has not played since suffering concussion during the victory over Australia on November 10.
Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac said last week that Halfpenny has seen a specialist and would not feature for “three to five weeks”.
Saracens star Liam Williams is likely to fill the full-back spot for the Six Nations opener against France in Paris on February 1, with Italy providing Wales’ second opposition in Rome eight days later.
Dan Biggar is also nursing a knee injury suffered in Northampton’s European Challenge Cup defeat to Clermont Auvergne.
The outside-half limped off with what Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd described as a “minor knee twist”, although Biggar is expected to be fit for Wales’ Six Nations opener.
Ospreys lock Adam Beard suffered a neck injury over the festive period but should be fit to resume his second-row partnership with skipper Alun Wyn Jones.
Gatland has also been making further checks on Rhodri Jones (shoulder), James Davies (knee), Nicky Smith (ankle), Dan Lydiate (elbow), Rhys Patchell (hamstring), Jake Ball (shoulder) and Bradley Davies (knee).