TAULUPE Faletau has established himself as a superstar since bursting onto the scene at the 2011 World Cup yet the Newport Gwent Dragons number eight has been described by his skipper as an "absolute beast" compared to four years ago.

It has been an uncertain summer for the Pontypool-raised back row forward because of talks about ending his contract at Rodney Parade a year early to head to Bath, a move that has stalled because of problems about release for international commitments.

But the saga has not shown on the pitch with the 24-year-old producing a pair of excellent performances in the warm-up Tests against Ireland in Cardiff and Dublin.

Faletau burst onto the scene in the summer of 2011 and has been a mainstay of Warren Gatland's side ever since – he could potentially win his 50th cap at the World Cup and has featured in ever Test since the victory over his native Tonga in the autumn of 2013.

And Wales captain Sam Warburton believes the Dragons back row forward could be one of the stars of the tournament after a summer of hard graft.

"Toby is in the best physical shape I have seen him ever," said the flanker. "It is the hardest I have seen him train this summer and by comparing him to four years ago, he is an absolute beast.

"He used to be quite relaxed in the gym, laid back to say the least. This summer he has trained so hard and his shape physically, he is an animal at the moment.

"Someone asked me before who I was excited about this World Cup and one of the boys would be Toby. The bigger the game, the better he plays. I think he will be awesome for us."

Faletau is in good nick and thankfully so is Warburton just weeks after fearing a World Cup KO.

The flanker sat out last weekend's win at the Aviva Stadium because of a nerve problem in his right shoulder after being smashed at the breakdown in Colwyn Bay.

"We did a 15 on 15 session and I got a turnover under the posts," he said. "Of all people Jake Ball, who is 126 to 127kg, came flying into my shoulder.

"It was perfectly legal but it caught me right on the button where I have suffered before with nerve damage.

"Initially, I was a little bit worried because when I had it first time it was a there-month job and on the second it was two months.

"When I took my T-shirt off in the hotel I could not lift my arm up and I thought the worst, as you do. Luckily, within two or three days it recovered but I was panicking for a good couple of days."

Warburton's enforced absence allowed Justin Tipuric to produce a performance at the Aviva Stadium that was described as his best in a Wales jersey by Gatland.

And rather than fearing for his spot, the skipper is thrilled to have another talented back row in the mix.

"I have played against quite a lot of opensides now and he is one of the most influential and best in world rugby and he showed that for the last two Tests running," said Warburton.

"It is great that you have four Lions competing for three jerseys. That competition is brilliant and rather than see the back row as a team of three, we look at ourselves as a team of five and we can all rotate in and out depending on the tactics required."