Wales boss Wayne Pivac has praised the impact of ‘excellent’ second row Ben Carter – with the uncapped Dragons ace impressing on the training camp in North Wales.
Carter was one of eight Dragons named by Pivac to prepare for summer fixtures against Canada Rugby and Argentina.
Uncapped back row Taine Basham was also included alongside Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright, Taine Basham, Jonah Holmes and Rhodri Williams who was handed a recall after seven years since his last cap.
And speaking ahead of next week's opening Test against Canada at the Principality Stadium, Pivac pinpointed the way Carter has settled into his work.
“Young Ben Carter has been excellent,” he said. “Jonathan Humphreys has given him some responsibility in terms of lineout calls with one of the teams in training and he’s taken to that like a duck to water.
“We are really pleased that he is getting to learn to handle some of the pressures in training.
“The newcomers have all impressed and haven’t shirked from the work,” he added.
“They have all learned a lot in terms of where they are physically and their fitness levels. It’s been a big wake-up call that it is a big step up.
“For some of them, it’s a new level that they’ve got to get to.
“It’s been an eye-opener, but they have really taken the challenge on.
“I am pleased they are coming in and putting their best foot forward. They are all working really hard.”
