Jackman hits back over Griffiths

BERNARD Jackman insists the only way the Dragons will silence critics is by doing their talking on the pitch amid a startling call for hot prospect Ollie Griffiths to consider his future at Rodney Parade.

Wales great Martyn Williams claimed Griffiths, who made his Test debut against Tonga three months ago, may have to leave his home region of Gwent to further his international ambitions.

Former Ireland flanker Andy Ward also piled into the Dragons, who were taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union just two months ago and are rebuilding under new coach Jackman, in the wake of their 52-25 thrashing by Guinness PRO14 big guns Ulster in Belfast at the weekend.

Ex-Ireland hooker Jackman had made 13 changes from the side that beat Connacht a week earlier, but the experimental and largely rookie lineup he picked was 33-6 behind after just 30 minutes.

“They look like a very poor professional outfit. Guys didn’t look like they were at the level they should be at. They are just not strong enough across the board,” rapped BBC Northern Ireland pundit Ward.

“Watching them I couldn’t see anybody who I thought would enhance the Ulster team, not one player. There’s always one player in the opposition where you think you wouldn’t mind a piece of him in our team, but not on this occasion.

“Yes, they’re young, but Bernard Jackman has got a lot of work to do over there. The WRU is going to get in behind this team in due course, but they need some big players.”

Former Wales captain and twice Six Nations Grand Slam hero Williams described Griffiths as “a huge talent”.

But he went on: “I don’t mean this in a cruel way, but he is not playing in the best side and that will not help him. If you put him with a Saracens or Scarlets side, we would all see