Get the latest Welsh rugby news sent straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

There will be many intriguing tussles in Wales’ Six Nations showdown with England in Twickenham.

But none so more than the barnstorming battle between the No.8s as cousins Taulupe Faletau and Billy Vunipola again lock horns at Test level.

It is one-all so far with Vunipola proving a crucial cog of England’s Friday night success in the 2015 Six Nations opener in Cardiff last year before Faletau was part of the Wales side who gained revenge in the World Cup group game at Twickenham last September.

Vunipola is the man-of-the-moment with two man-of-the-match performances but Faletau had been equally effective in his usual no-nonsense style.

The pair grew up together in Wales when Taulupe’s dad Kuli played for Ebbw Vale and Pontypool and Billy’s father Fe’ao played for Pooler, Caerphilly and Pontypridd. Billy and his brother Mako began playing in Wales and Mako’s first club was New Panteg, where he appeared alongside Faletau.

Related:Eddie Jones' Six Nations warning to Wales: 'It will be fun to take on Warren Gatland and why England will only get better'

The Vunipola family moved on to Bristol and then High Wycombe as their boys pledged the allegiance to England, while Faletau has stayed in Gwent and has worn the Welsh jersey for the last five years.

Vunipola is part of a distinguished Tongan rugby dynasty, his older brother Mako also being a current England international. Fe’ao, a hooker who won 32 caps for his country, figured in the 1995 and 1999 World Cups and played for Pontypool. Six of Billy’s uncles and his grandfather also represented Tonga.

Those Test credentials have passed onto the Vunipola and Faletau most recent dynasty and the pair now stand among the top No.8s in the world at the moment alongside Kieran Read, Sergio Parisse and Duane Vermeulen.

Faletau has proved his skills over almost five years while Vunipola is reaching the peak of his powers. WalesOnline rates the respective qualities of the outstanding No.8s.

Related:Six Nations breaking news Live: Wales tipped to beat England as Warren Gatland considers possible Rhys Web call-up

FORM

England’s bruising back-rower has been the player of the Six Nations tournament so far with two man-of-the-match performances against Scotland and Ireland as he has kept the Red Rose machine going forward with his barnstorming ball-carrying.

Faletau has been more understated but no less impressive as he has gone about his excellent work quietly but deadly effectively with 51 tackles made during this tournament so far including 20 against France.

Faletau 9 Vunipola 9

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Read more:'Less of a match than a mess!' The damning media verdict on Wales' stuttering Six Nations win against France

FITNESS

One look at the two players will demonstrate why Faletau has the edge in this department. The Dragons back-rower has a remarkable engine and since making his Test debut for Wales against the Barbarians in June 2011 he has hardly been injured, apart from the summer tour of Australia in 2012.

He has played 55 matches for his country and a remarkable 54 of those have been starts. There have been previous issues raised around Vunipola’s weight but he has proved his durability by playing all 240 minutes in the tournament so far.

Faletau 9 Vunipola 7

Read more:Ospreys hit out at standard of Pro12 refereeing after 'clear and obvious' try is ruled out in defeat to Connacht

IMPORTANCE TO TEAM

England have come to rely on Vunipola because he is the man who provides them with the momentum to implement their game plan.

Stop Vunipola and you can disrupt Eddie Jones’ side. He has proved difficult to stop so far and Dan Lydiate will be the man charged with this job at Twickenham in 12 days.

Wales captain Sam Warburton recently hinted why he believes Faletau is irreplaceable at the moment and outlined why he is one of the first names down on Warren Gatland’s team sheet.

Faletau 8 Vunipola 9

(Image: Getty Images)

Read more:Barry John: Warren Gatland's Wales showed admirable commitment but drab attack will have to improve to beat England

BALL-CARRYING

This is the main string to Vunipola’s bow and has been in devastating effect during the Six Nations so far, most notably against Ireland with 18 carries and 96 metres made. He has beaten 15 defenders during the whole tournament which is a figure only surpassed by George North (16).

The sheer size of the Saracens man makes him so much more difficult to stop. Wales don’t have that sort of player because Faletau is a different sort of animal who relies on his fleet footwork as well as occasionally brute strength.

Metres gained in 2016 Six Nations Taulupe Faletau 46 Billy Vunipola 207 Accenture Number of carries in 2016 Six Nations 27 Taulupe Faletau 58 Billy Vunipola Accenture Turnovers conceded in 2016 Six Nations 3 Taulupe Faletau 5 Billy Vunipola Accenture

We have not seen too much of Faletau this season so far with ball in hand but Wales will hope that does not remain the case at Twickenham in a couple of weeks. Both players also have a dangerous offload game which can release fellow team-mates after defenders have been attracted.

Faletau 8 Vunipola 9

(Image: Getty Images)

Read more:Eddie Jones fires shot at Warren Gatland as he vows to keep his mouth closed ahead of Wales clash

DEFENCE

Number of tackles made in 2016 Six Nations 51 Taulupe Faletau 27 Billy Vunipola

Faletau has taken on the mantle as Wales’ ‘Mr Consistent ‘in Shaun Edwards’ rearguard resistance system and tops the Six Nations tackle charts. Hardly ever misses a challenge and has pulled off some crucial efforts in the tournament so far most notably his covering effort on Simon Zebo in Dublin.

Faletau has also perfected the rip tackle which he demonstrated against France when he stole possession before he was caught off the ball by Les Bleus second-row. Might have had a perfect 10 for this section but proved he was human last weekend after missing two tackles against France.

Vunipola has stated he has been given license to smash opponents by Eddie Jones and demonstrated in Cardiff last year he can put his body weight to good use through the use of the choke tackle. So the Welsh attacking runners must not be too upright going into contact on March 12.

Faletau 9 Vunipola 8

Read more:Six Nations analysis: The case for the defence and exactly why this year's championship is missing that vital X Factor

EXPERIENCE

Faletau edges this section as he is two years older than his celebrated cousin. Faletau is only 25 but Vunipola is 23. And he has won 55 Wales compared to 24 by his England counterpart.

And the Wales No.8 also has the experience of a Lions Test series success under his belt after being part of the 2013 Warren Gatland winning squad in Australia.

Those Lions experiences are set to come from Vunipola and only injury or a major loss in form will stop him joining Faletau on the Lions tour of New Zealand next summer.

Faletau 9 Vunipola 7

SILVERWARE

Vunipola has yet to win anything at Test level with England although this might change this season if Jones’ side lift the Six Nations title and even clinch the Grand Slam. But he has enjoyed success as being part of the Saracens side who won the Aviva Premiership title last season.

Since coming into the Test arena, Faletau has enjoyed a Six Nations title, a Triple Crown, Grand Slam, a Lions Test series win and helped his nation reach the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the last two World Cups.

Faletau 8 Vunipola 6

Read more:Wales' defence is simply remarkable but I believe we have regressed as a team and must find a new plan

X-FACTOR

When ‘Big Billy’ receives the ball there is a huge anticipation from English fans about what will happen next. There is perhaps not the same level of expectation from the Welsh fans for a player who used to be instantly recognisable with his distinct ‘Afro’ hair cut.

Now we just expect fantastic Faletau to thrive in everything that he does rather than provide just one standout moment. But Faletau proved he still has some X-factor with the brilliant finish for his try against Ireland in Dublin.

Faletau 7 Vunipola 9

Read more:Wales Women 10-8 France match report: Dydggu Hywel and Megan York score tries to secure victory in Neath

LEADERSHIP

They both possess this quality but maybe in different ways. Faletau is the quiet man who seems to lead through deed rather than voice. The manner in which he was the first man on the scene against Scotland to clean out a ruck after wing Tom James had been hauled down by Duncan Taylor was purely inspirational for his team-mates and the Cardiff crowd.

But Vunipola has been handed responsibility in an official way by Eddie Jones after being named as one of three vice-captains along with Mike Brown and Owen Farrell to back up new skipper Dylan Hartley. And how well Vunipola has responded in the last three games.

Faletau 7 Vunipola 8

SET-PIECE

Faletau is a viable lineout option and even collected the most takes with four against Scotland. Also proved his brilliant skills at the base of the scrum with his instinctive individual try against the Irish.

Vunipola’s lineout prowess is not considered one of his assets but he does add some considerable weight at the back of the scrum and appears to exude control.

Faletau 8 Vunipola 7

TOTAL

Faletau 82/100

Vunipola 79/100