The Wales gamers that starred earlier than Tandy names Nations Championship squad

Dragons confirmed tenacity in defence earlier than securing a hard-fought win against Perpignan in Newport on Friday.

Filo Tiatia’s males have made a powerful begin to the season however which may not essentially translate into a much bigger contingent in Tandy’s squad.

Lock Ben Carter is a shoo-in, tight-head prop Dillon Lewis will hope to select up the place he left off in the summertime and in-form hooker Elliot Dee would like to battle Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias for motion.

The Perpignan fixture highlighted the qualities of Dragons’ grafters with blind-side flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes, who gained three caps in 2020, persevering with his sturdy begin to the season.

Wales contact coach Dan Lydiate was a visitor at Dragons coaching final week and would have been impressed as Lewis-Hughes put in 27 tackles in opposition to the French aspect’s massive carriers.

But the ahead, like team-mate Harri Keddie, is competing able of actual depth.

The similar applies for wing Rio Dyer, who’s but to attain this season however has been energetic with ball in hand and spectacular within the aerial sport.

Dragons’ man of the match in opposition to Perpignan was Aneurin Owen, so typically the aspect’s glue from inside centre.

He carried strongly to go along with his distribution abilities, whereas he was sturdy in defence and got here up with two turnovers.

Owen, who turns 26 the day earlier than Tuesday’s squad announcement, was a member of the Wales squad underneath Wayne Pivac in the summertime of 2021 however stays uncapped.

There may be a gap at 12 because of Ben Thomas’ injury ought to Tandy look to see if a high quality operator at membership stage can take the following step.

“Aneurin is aware of I like him,” mentioned Dragons boss Filo Tiatia. “He has excellent management and there’s tons extra to return from him.

“He desires to enhance, is coachable and is robust at difficult the coaches.”