Last chance for in-form Dragons to stake Wales claim
Filo Tiatia hopes another strong Dragons showing against Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship can help secure more Wales summer call-ups.
Wales wing Rio Dyer won his 24th cap against South Africa in November [Rex Features] Filo Tiatia hopes Dragons' upturn in form will lead to more of their players making the step up to Test level with Wales. The Rodney Parade club host Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday (19:45 BST) and then finish their season at Scarlets. The trip to Llanelli comes after Monday's announcement of the Wales squad for summer fixtures against Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and South Africa by head coach Steve Tandy.
Just two Dragons played in the Six Nations – lock Ben Carter and number eight Aaron Wainwright – but the club have been in strong form since then and made it to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. "They are pushing," said head coach Tiatia about his players' Test hopes. "When you are winning games you get elevated and more people notice they are playing well.
" How Wainwright became Dragons great before Parade goodbye Lydiate to leave Dragons for full-time Wales role Wing Rio Dyer won his 24th cap against South Africa in the autumn and has been back to his best in recent months, with a remarkable try-saving tackle against Montpellier last weekend. He gets another chance to stake a claim against Edinburgh this weekend along with uncapped Angus O'Brien. The big-kicking full-back was called up by Wales attack coach Matt Sherratt after he missed out on the Six Nations, with Tiatia believing the 31-year-old is "probably the best 15 in the country and should be looked at".
Blind-side flanker Ryan Woodman, fit-again Elliot Dee and fellow hooker Brodie Coghlan, centre Aneurin Owen and tight-head Chris Coleman have all performed strongly in recent weeks. "There are a lot of players to talk about," said the Dragons head coach. "They need to keep on top of their form for the Wales coaches to keep viewing them.