NEWPORT Gwent Dragons boss Kingsley Jones believes adding more brawn to go with his rugby brain is key to lock Cory Hill flourishing on the Test scene with Wales.

The 24-year-old from Pontypridd is back with his Dragons teammates after enjoying a stunning autumn in which he has locked horns with Australia, Japan and South Africa.

Hill was not initially named in Rob Howley's squad for the November Tests but was invited to help with training as injury cover and impressed to not only get a proper call-up but win three caps.

He added late vigour off the bench against the Wallabies, was an unused replacement against Argentina, started against the Brave Blossoms and came on at the death against the Springboks.

The Dragons man will now need strong December and January form to keep his place in the squad for the Six Nations with Jake Ball, Bradley Davies and uncapped prospect Rory Thornton his rivals as back-up to Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris.

"Cory did well against Australia and the lineout accuracy improved remarkably," said Dragons head coach Jones, who won 10 caps himself in the back row.

"He went into that environment as a lineout leader, which is a big call because I did them when I played and it's an extra thing to think about and more pressure. He stepped up and warmed to that task, it's a big role and he did it well.

"His game against Japan was good and the biggest thing that you want to see when a player steps into international rugby is minimum errors. I don't think there were any in his game and he worked hard.

"Physicality is going to be the biggest challenge for Cory at that level. He is a big lad but power and physicality is important and he is working hard on that, because he has got it up top.

"He is composed, mature, mentally tough and is intelligent to understand what is going on."

Jones believes the exploits of their latest international will serve as inspiration for the Dragons' crop of talented prospects.

"It's great for all of the squad," he said. "(Lock) Matthew Screech looks at Cory, after having very similar careers up until now, and sees that he is playing for Wales.

"It makes you realise that you can do the same, so it will bring the best out of the others around and boost the confidence in the changing room."

Hill could make his Dragons comeback against Leinster on Saturday evening after the Dragons were down to the bare bones in their excellent home win against Edinburgh last weekend.

Rynard Landman was missed on paternity leave and Screech failed his head injury assessment in the opening stages of the second half, leaving them to field a pair of lock/flankers in Nick Crosswell and James Thomas.