TOWERING Newport Gwent Dragons lock Luke Charteris has been backed by Wales coach Warren Gatland to do a sterling job for Wales in the autumn internationals and beyond.

Charteris has been brought into the team at the expense of vastly experienced former Dragons teammate Ian Gough because he is a regular whereas his rival hasn’t been starting for the Ospreys, Gatland explained.

Now he is expecting big things from the Dragons powerhouse – and he clearly expects the 6ft 9ins, 19st 9lbs lock to make his presence felt during the forthcoming autumn internationals.

“Luke is still a very young player (he’s 26) and he’s getting bigger and bigger physically,” said Gatland.

“The thing about tight forwards is that you have to do the time. It takes a few years to get that confidence and experience.

“Luke is very athletic and is good about the pitch. It’s been pleasing to see he’s been taking the responsibility for calling at the line-outs for the Dragons and he’s been doing a good job there.

“We just hope over the next couple of years there will be chances for Luke to establish himself because you want to use that size, height and mobility.

“He’s 127kg and around 6ft 10ins - he could probably quite easily play at 135kg. We’ve been pleased with his development, he’s come into the squad and there’s potential there for him to be a better player.”

Though Charteris could well take over from Gough in the side to face the All Blacks a week on Saturday, Gatland denied it was the end of the road for the Panteg-born former Newport and Dragons lock.

“Not at all,” he said when asked. “Ian has been very much part of the past couple of years, but we have tried to be consistent in our selection.

“There are one or two positions where we haven’t got much depth and others where there is.

“We’ve looked at the regions and taken on board who they’ve been picking as their number one players, who they’ve been picking in the Heineken Cup.

“Ian’s probably missed out at this stage because he’s been sitting on the bench or he hasn’t been playing for the Ospreys.

“Even though he played on Saturday night (against the Blues) they didn’t pick him for two Heineken Cup games.

“We just need to send a message long term to some of our players that if you want to be selected for the national team you have to be playing and you have to be playing regularly.”

Gatland expects centre Jamie Roberts, the Lions man of the series against South Africa this summer and another Newport-born player, to be closely watched by the All Blacks.

“I think he’s definitely going to be a target, they are going to really look to shove him down,” he said.

“But if he can do what he did in South Africa and get across the gain line it will give us something to work off.

“It was interesting to see how much pressure he put the Springboks under with the Lions yet you didn’t see that in the Tri Nations. We’re just hoping he can get back to that form and repeat it.”