Defensive don Nic Cudd so valuable to Dragons - Kingsley Jones

The Rodney Parade region are spoiled for choices at seven with the 25-year-old battling for the start with Lewis Evans and the young trio of Scott Matthews, James Benjamin and Ollie Griffiths, while another option would be to move the defensively exceptional Taulupe Faletau there to accommodate Andy Powell.

All candidates have their qualities but none of them can eclipse Cudd's bravery at the breakdown, with the West Walian putting his head where it hurts time after time with seemingly scant regard for his own safety.

The Dragons spluttered in attack in their 17-15 defeat to the Ospreys last Friday but former Wales flanker Jones hailed the defensive shift put in by his openside.

"I thought Nic Cudd was outstanding," he said. "I've spoken to some of the Wales selectors and I thought he deserved to be in the Wales trial last season after all his efforts.

"It's a slightly different game at international level and they are perhaps looking for bigger men. It depends on what you need from your seven but he is incredibly valuable to this team.

"The Ospreys came here to smash Nic Cudd after he took them to the cleaners last season (at the Millennium Stadium) but he still managed to do it on many occasions and his work rate and tackle count was excellent.

"I'm not going to big him up as if he is Sam Warburton but he is fantastic for us."

Ospreys forwards coach Chris Gibbes was delighted that his side emerged with the spoils after seeing the hosts fight back from 17-6 down to be within a kick of burgling the points.

"For them to show that grit and dig in for a pretty fierce last ten minutes, we are pretty proud of that," said the New Zealander.

"(Head coach) Steve Tandy spoke after the game about how some of the true Ospreys stuff came through in that two minutes or so with some of the defence.

"Some of their ball-carriers were pretty good but we were knocking them back."