Dragons star challenged to hit next level with Wales after impressing the Boks

WALES boss Warren Gatland has challenged Dragons talisman Aaron Wainwright to hit the next level as he prepares for a milestone.

The 26-year-old from Bassaleg will be first onto the pitch ahead of Saturday’s Test against Australia in Sydney to mark his 50th appearance.

Wainwright starts at number eight and will be a key figure in the bid for a first win against the Wallabies Down Under since 1969, an 11-game losing streak.

The Dragons man, who signed a two-year contract extension in January, is the most-capped forward in the matchday squad – and only full-back Liam Williams has more international appearances – and will be a prime ball carrier.

Wainwright won his first cap under Gatland against Argentina in 2018 and has been a firm favourite of the head coach.

The back rower, who first played the game at Whiteheads, had a spell in the international wilderness under Wayne Pivac but will play his 13th Test of 2023/24 this weekend, plus he featured in the uncapped game against the Barbarians.

INFLUENTIAL: Dragons back rower Aaron Wainwright has established himself in the Wales XV (Image: PA)

With Taulupe Faletau injured, Wainwright has moved from blindside to number eight and made his mark against South Africa at Twickenham in the warm-up for the Wallabies.

He was yellow-carded for illegally stopping a driving lineout, which also led to a penalty try, but put in some big shots and strong carries on his return.

“I just like the way he's grown as a player. After the game [against South Africa], Faf de Klerk said 'your blonde number eight is a handful',” said Gatland.

“We've seen him grow, with his footwork and carrying. I've challenged him and I think there's another level in him, making sure he stays in the game and in the moment all the time.

“There perhaps had been a tendency where he switched off in the past. That's been a work-on for him.

“But he's trained excellently this week. His dad is going to be out here to see his 50th cap so I hope everything goes well for him.”

Not only does Wainwright shine at Test level but he leads the charge for the Dragons.

Saturday will be his 30th game of the season with 12 Tests, the Baa-Baas game and 16 club games (14 of them starts) so far.

HIT: Dragons flanker Aaron Wainwright in defence for Wales against Australia's Jordan Petaia at the World Cup (Image: PA)

He will hope to maintain his perfect record against the Wallabies – he has won all three games against them, the last the World Cup romp in Lyon.

Wainwright will also look to improve his rather disappointing return of just two international tries, which were scored against France at the 2019 World Cup and Scotland in February’s Six Nations defeat.

He is joined in the XV by Dragons winger Rio Dyer but Ben Carter misses out on the 23 because of a minor injury, with fellow lock Matthew Screech overlooked in favour of good friend Cory Hill.

Wales: L Williams (Kubota Spears); J Hathaway (Gloucester), O Watkin (Ospreys), M Grady (Cardiff), R Dyer (Dragons); B Thomas (Cardiff), E Bevan (Cardiff); G Thomas (Ospreys), D Lake (Ospreys, captain), A Griffin (Bath), C Tshiunza (Exeter), D Jenkins (Exeter), T Plumtree (Scarlets), T Reffell (Leicester), A Wainwright (Dragons).

Replacements: E Lloyd (Cardiff), K Mathias (Scarlets), H O’Connor (Scarlets), C Hill (Secom Rugguts), J Botham (Cardiff), K Hardy (Ospreys), S Costelow (Scarlets), N Tompkins (Saracens).