WALES boss Warren Gatland hailed Dragons flanker Aaron Wainwright as a star of the future after the World Cup hopeful caught the eye in the win against England.

The 21-year-old from Bassaleg produced an energetic 40 minutes of the 13-6 triumph at Principality Stadium before being forced off with a dead leg at half-time.

Wainwright, winning his 10th cap, carried and tackled strongly while he also featured prominently as a lineout option.

After featuring in all of Wales’ Grand Slam games, the Dragons blindside looks sure to be selected as one of Gatland’s five back row forwards for Japan.

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And Wainwright did his cause of putting pressure on Six Nations starters Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty no harm at all with his display in helping avenge Wales’ 33-19 loss at Twickenham.

“He was good, but I am waiting for him to make a 30 or 40-metre break!” said Gatland, who names his 31-strong World Cup squad on September 1.

“Aaron was outstanding last week with the amount of rucks that he hit defensively – he is definitely going to be a player of the future.

“I though Josh Navidi was really good when he came on too, but Aaron has had a couple of starts and will get better and better with those opportunities.

“There is no doubt that he has impressed a lot of people in the squad with his physicality and how quickly he has learnt, and he is still learning from every game.

“But Aaron is definitely going to be a player for the future who should get a lot of caps for Wales.”

Dragons captain Cory Hill missed the England double-header after suffering a niggle on his left ankle, which he injured in the Six Nations.

The lock is hopeful of featuring against Ireland after Wales’ warm-weather training camp in Turkey.

“I’ve had a good pre-season after coming back from injury in the Six Nations,” said Hill to former Dragons teammate Ed Jackson in a Channel 4 interview.

“I’m looking pretty fit but just picked up a niggle in my ankle. We’ve got Ireland in two weeks and fingers crossed I can get back for that game.”

Lock Jake Ball left the field with a dead leg against England, forcing Dragons hooker Elliot Dee to slot in at blindside with Aaron Shingler moving to the second row, while flanker James Davies suffered a concussion.

Liam Williams was pulled out of the game at the last minute but the Lions full-back’s hamstring injury is not serious.