DRAGONS boss Dean Ryan says that talisman Ollie Griffiths needs to prove his robustness to make the breakthrough with Wales.

The 25-year-old from Newbridge made a superb return from a summer hamstring strain, carrying with dynamism and providing breakdown menace, but was overlooked by national head coach Wayne Pivac last week.

He instead called up promising Cardiff Blues flanker James Botham, who was parachuted into the Wales XV to face Georgia last weekend.

The Dragons’ coronavirus outbreak hit the hopes of Griffiths and Taine Basham, with the region only leaving quarantine last Wednesday.

READ MORE: Dragons duo would have been contenders - Wales coach

However, director of rugby Ryan believes stringing consistent performances together holds the key for Griffiths, who has been limited to a solitary Test cameo for Wales in 2017 because of injury misfortune.

South Wales Argus:

“It’s not really for me to guess how selection was arrived at,” said Ryan. “I don’t think that (Covid) will have been the only factor. What these guys have got to do is play really well.

“Ollie is coming back from a prolonged period of absence and he has hit the ground running. I honestly believe he is an incredible international player if he can string robustness together into his game.

“I don’t think the future changes for Ollie. Neither do the conversations with Wayne and we’ve been fairly aligned on that.

“He has to be robust week to week and he knows that’s his challenge. When he does, he’s an incredible player.

“Ollie is a really high-class individual who has to get some game time under his belt in terms of double figure games back to back. If he does that he’s quite capable of dominating at international level.”

South Wales Argus:

Griffiths, who played in the uncapped fixture against the Barbarians last year, could well come into the Wales fold for the autumn because of Pivac’s problems in the back row.

Ross Moriarty (ankle) and Josh Navidi (concussion) are yet to feature and Justin Tipuric was forced off against Georgia after being hit by a swinging arm.

Number eight Taulupe Faletau is expected to be back in the mix for Saturday’s clash against England, joining Dragons forward Aaron Wainwright, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Botham and James Davies.