Dragons prop Dillon Lewis has silenced the doubts and wants to turn his Wales comeback into a long run in the Nations Championship.
Dillon Lewis has found his way back into the Wales fold, and the Dragons prop has no intention of treating it as a one-off. After a spell on the fringes of the international picture, he is now targeting more caps when the Nations Championship arrives.
The road back was as much mental as physical. Time away from the Test arena can plant uncomfortable questions in any player's head, especially in a position as demanding as front-row forward. Lewis has faced those doubts and come out the other side, and his return has shown he still belongs at the top level.
For a tighthead or loosehead, a comeback means little unless it is backed up in the scrum, around the park and in the grind of Test-match intensity. Lewis now has the chance to show that his return was no short-term fix, and that he can be a dependable presence in the Wales pack.
The Nations Championship gives him a fresh stage and a clear target. Competition for front-row places is always fierce, so every training session and every Dragons appearance will count. Lewis has come back from the wilderness, and now he wants to stay.
