A bloke should not be missing that amount of games with sore toes Dragons coach Chris Anderson

Wales coach Mike Ruddock picked Charteris against Romania, despite the fact that the 21-year-old has not started a game for his region.

"You need to earn the right to wear your country's jersey, not get in because you are 6ft 10in," Anderson told BBC Wales' Scrum V programme.

"I don't think that rests easily with other blokes trying to play for Wales."

After impressing against Romania, Charteris was in line to start against New Zealand.

A mystery injury diagnosed as "turf toe" ruled him out, though, and the young lock has not played a game since because of the condition.

I was at the Dragons for a whole season as head coach and he really impressed me Wales coach Mike Ruddock on Charteris

The player says that he has been left unable to run, but Anderson is exasperated by the situation.

"Look, a bloke should not be missing that amount of games with sore toes," said the coach, who led Australia to the rugby league World Cup.

"You get an opportunity, you take it. If you can get on the pitch you get yourself out there no matter what condition you are in."

"There are blokes, week in, week out, trying to do the best they can for a Welsh cap and here is a bloke who is not playing, walking into it.

"I hope he [Charteris] plays for us and earns the right to make the Six Nations. I hope he gets seven games in for us before that."

When he was fit at the start of the season, Charteris found himself behind Peter Sidoli, Ian Gough and Michael Owen in the Dragons' pecking order.

But Ruddock, Anderson's predecessor as Dragons coach, insists he knew enough of Charteris' potential to justify his international call-up.

It may not be fair to other players in Wales, but life's not fair BBC rugby pundit Gwyn Jones

"I was at the Dragons for a whole season as head coach and he really impressed me," said Ruddock.

"He earned the Wales jersey if you look at him in terms of playing for Wales at Under-21 level, but also for the way he trained and conducted himself, and the potential he showed through that whole year.

"You only have to look at him to realise he has the size to make an impact at international level, but it's only half the story because his record is pretty impressive."

Ruddock's policy over Charteris was defended by Scrum V pundit and former Wales captain Gwyn Jones.

"It may not be fair to other players in Wales, but life's not fair - you just have to look at the size of Charteris to see that," said Jones.

He added that he trusted Ruddock's knowledge of Welsh rugby above that of newcomer Anderson and suggested that Charteris could consider a move away from the Gwent region.