Luke Charteris, the young Newport Gwent Dragons giant, has got a big future, predicts Wales coach Mike Ruddock as he grapples with injury problems ahead of Friday nights game against Romania.

Wales are almost certain to be without lock Brent Cockbain (Shoulder), number eight Ryan Jones (dead leg) and wing Shane Williams (ankle) while prop Adam Jones (Back) is also doubtful.

Charteris seems certain to be one of the players to profit after playing for half an hour on his full debut in Saturdays battling performance against Tri-Nations champions South Africa.

The 6 ft 9 ins towerblock improved the flagging welsh line-out and could now stake a claim for a place in the next really big one against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on November 20.

"Luke came on against Victor Matfield, one of the best in the world, and held his own which is testimony to his ability," said Ruddock.

"He also had a huge under-age career and John Eales (Australia's former world cup winning captain) was capped straight from under-21 level.

"Luke is not just a line-out player, he can carry the ball and tackle with a lot of force. Andrew Hore, (Wales fitness Chief), is continuing to put him on a development programme,

Luke has got a big future."

Other players who could get the call in view of Wales injury problems are Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins and Jonathan Thomas, who has now completed his suspension.

Ruddock was still philosophical on Sunday after Wales' narrow 38-36 defeat by the Springboks, believing his side lost it in the opening twenty minutes and insisting the feeling was still one of disappointment despite running the Tri-Nations champions so close.

"We felt we could have won, there's an inner-confidence about the boys and this was the first of the series."

"I felt the selectionworked out well and all goes well for the future"

"Stephen Jones did well, we attacked the scrum a bit and though the line-out was a bit iffy, it wasn't Steve Jones' problem, it was a unit problem.

"But there is no way we are looking forward to the All Blacks yet, we need to get a win against Romania. .

"People are happy that we kept in touch with South Africa, but we aren't, we let ourselves down in the opening period and we're disappointed.

"I hope it was about us being rusty, having new combinations and not having enough time to prepare and that we can now settle down and move forward."

Outside half Stephen Jones who kicked twenty one points against the Springbocks, admitted yesterday: "The start killed us.

"We got back in but didn't take advantage."

But I'm quite confident in this squad, it's got a lot of ability and we'll back ourselves against any nation. If we play the Welsh way with wits and with confidence we can take on anybody."