NEWPORT Gwent Dragons back rower Toby Faletau has been hailed as important to Wales as Adam Jones and Leigh Halfpenny by the legendary Martyn Williams.

He believes the Rodney Parade side’s British and Irish Lions star is “head and shoulders above any other number eight in Wales”.

Faletau had an outstanding tour with the Lions during their 2-1 series victory over Australia this summer and was superb in the Dragons’ recent 30-7 home league win over Zebre.

A brilliant break from the base of a scrum on halfway ended in a try for wing Hallam Amos who scored a brace against the Italian side last Friday night.

Faletau’s great form is also timely for Wales with the national side’s four-match autumn campaign kicking off against South Africa early next month.

It has pleased Williams, who won 100 caps for Wales in a glittering international career that lasted between 1996 and his retirement last year.

“He’s in sensational form isn’t he? I think people realise after the Lions tour how good he actually was,” Williams said.

“He is one of those players, everyone mentions Leigh Halfpenny and Adam Jones for Wales, but I think he’s as important as any player to Wales.

“And with due respect to the other number eights in Wales, he is head and shoulders above them.

“I’m sure (Wales coaches) Warren Gatland and Rob Howley will have their fingers crossed he’ll stay fit because he is a sensational player.”

Meanwhile Dragons forwards coach Kingsley Jones admitted he was disappointed his side didn’t pick up a bonus point over Zebre but added the positives far outweigh the negatives.

“Yes of course you are (unhappy not to get a bonus point) but before the kick-off you would have signed up for that score and it was a good win

“We’ve got a lot of learning to do and we’ve got a lot of young players there and they will close these games out.

“I think the thing you’ve got to remember is that Zebre have really improved – they got their Cardiff Blues win and got a bonus point against Glasgow the week before and we know how good Glasgow can play.

Jones added: “They’ve got Brendan Leonard at half back and (Luciano) Orquera and they really play and have a mentality that if they are going to lose, they are going to lose playing. They try and collect bonus points and they keep playing

“Our defence as excellent and they only squeezed one try and overall there are a lot of positives for the team to build on.”