Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young says Taulupe Faletau and Liam Williams have proved a point in response to “rubbish” comments about them being “over the hill”.
Young admits he was upset by some of the reaction to him signing the Wales and Lions duo from Bath and the Scarlets respectively.
He feels people were disrespectful in labelling them as “spent forces” in the wake of injury issues.
Now he feels the star pairing have delivered the perfect response with their displays for Wales in the Six Nations.
No 8 Faletau, 31, made an outstanding return to international rugby against England at Twickenham last Saturday after playing just two games since the Lions tour of South Africa following an ankle injury.
And full-back Williams, 30, has proved to be one of Wales’ most effective performers, making the most metres (294) of anyone in the side and the fourth best in the Championship overall.
Reflecting first on Faletau, Young said: “I was delighted with the way Taulupe played because I was really upset with some of the negative comments when we signed him. I thought it was rubbish really.
“I was over the moon to see him go out there and prove a point to a lot of people who were starting to doubt him.
“Players get injuries. That’s part and parcel of it. But I thought his performance was outstanding on the weekend and it showed what a quality player can do.
“People were disrespectful to him and Liam, saying they are over the hill and spent forces and we won’t get anything out of them.
“At the time, they were going through some niggly injuries which they had to try and get over.
“But they have shown they are back to where we knew they were going to be.
“They are not my players at the moment, but I was just thrilled.
“They have been quality for Wales for a number of years and I think they are going to be quality again for the next couple of years, at least.
“I am thrilled they are coming to Cardiff and I was thrilled for the both of them on the weekend.
“I thought the two of them were very good in that red shirt and we are looking forward to having them in the blue and black.”
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