WARREN Gatland says the Dragons need to be a winning team if he is to justify more Rodney Parade representation with Wales squad after Ollie Griffiths missed out on his autumn squad.

The Wales head coach has named six players from the region in his 37-strong group for the Tests against Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa.

Summer tourists lock Cory Hill, hooker Elliot Dee and back row forwards Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright are included while there are recalls for tighthead Leon Brown and centre Tyler Morgan.

Wing/full-back Hallam Amos misses out because of an elbow injury and there is no place for once-capped back rower Griffiths, despite a superb start to the season.

Gatland says that he has been impressed with the 23-year-old from Newbridge but that the Dragons, who won two of their first six games in the Guinness PRO14 after triumphing just twice last season, need to get results to earn a bigger Wales contingent.

“The answer to him would be to just keep doing what he is doing, keep playing well and competing on the ball… and get the Dragons winning more. That makes a difference,” said Gatland.

“If you look at the squad that we have selected we have picked a tighthead, a hooker, a second row and two back rowers already, so if you pick three of the Dragons back row then you say ‘hang on, you’ve got a lot of representation in the national squad, you’ve got to start performing.

“Sometimes it is as plain as that, it’s not about individuals, it’s collectively as a team getting a performance and results.

“There is no doubt about Ollie being a quality athlete and I was impressed with him against the Blues when he competed over the ball, got a number of turnovers and carried well.

“It’s unfortunate [for him] that we have that luxury of some real depth in that position and some real competition.

“Because you’ve missed out on this campaign, and this is the message to a number of players, doesn’t mean your World Cup bid is over. Just keep working hard and hopefully you will get another opportunity.

“That might not be until the World Cup extended squad is picked because we saw in 2011 and 2015 that a number of players who were involved for that two-month period really developed as individuals and ended up becoming number ones in their position.

“The message is just keep working hard and doing what you are doing.”

Gatland named just five specialist back row forwards in his squad – Moriarty, Wainwright, Ellis Jenkins, Justin Tipuric and Dan Lydiate – in the absence of the injured Taulupe Faletau, Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi and James Davies.

Griffiths isn’t the only surprise omission with Wasps’ Thomas Young also left disappointed.

“It’s hard, we are blessed with quality 7s,” said Gatland. “Because you have got Faletau and Shingler injured, it’s trying to look at the balance of the loose forward trio.

“It’s looking at the competing on the ball, the physicality, the ball carrying, the lineout options. It’s making sure we are looking at 6 and 8.

“They are two quality players, Ollie has had a great season and Thomas in the defeat against Leinster tried really hard and was one of the Wasps guys competing really well.

“They were both discussed but it’s one of those situations where the depth is great and unfortunately you have to leave a couple of quality players out. Someone is unfortunately going to be disappointed.”