NEWPORT Gwent Dragons openside flanker Ollie Griffiths has been hailed as a future star by Wales great Martyn Williams after continuing his incredible Six Nations campaign.

The 19-year-old from Newbridge was named as man of the match for his all-action exploits in the Under-20s 19-12 win against Ireland in Colwyn Bay.

Griffiths, the youngest captain in Newport's history, made 12 carries, including incredible burst from his own 22 to the Irish half, and 11 tackles, including one try-saver on Irish wing Stephen Fitzgerald in the closing stages.

The teenager has made four regional appearances this season and legendary openside Williams, a BBC pundit at Parc Eirias, believes Griffiths has all the tools to go all the way at Rodney Parade.

"He was quite simply sensational," said Williams, who won a century of caps. "I have not seen an openside perform like that in many a year.

"His all-round game and his carries were unbelievable, work rate and tackling. He has got a burst of speed that is exactly what Sam Warburton has got.

"I know he is with the Dragons and I would get him on a five-year or ten-year deal straight away! He is going to be a star.

"We are lucky at the moment in that we've got Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton and this boy is not going to be far behind if he keeps playing like that."

Griffiths was man of the match in Wales' win against England in the tournament opener and also impressed against Scotland and France.

"Ollie has been like that in all four games," said backs coach Jason Strange to the BBC after the Ireland win. "You think he can't get any better and he goes up another level.

"He is superb on and off the field. He is something special, he's a great individual and can do anything he wants, he's that good a player."

Griffiths in the youngest of the Dragons' three bright prospects at openside and missed out on last year's Junior World Championship in New Zealand while James Benjamin and Scott Matthews starred in the back row.

Injury permitting he will be a key figure for Wales in their tricky group against England, France and Japan in this year's tournament in Italy. That's where Wales head next weekend and Griffiths wants to sign off with a victory.

"We knew that they had a good pack but I thought that we totally dominated the set piece, credit to the front row boys," he said.

"It was a tough old game and towards the end, when we were defending a lot, it was tough on the legs.

"A win against Italy would be great and it'd be two on the bounce going into the Junior World Championship but it will be another big challenge."

The young guns cannot win the Six Nations title as England and France, who meet in Brighton in round five, are both two points ahead of them.