BRIGHT prospect Jared Rosser hopes to reap the rewards of some quiet pearls of wisdom from a former Springbok when he lines up for the Dragons in Moscow this afternoon.

The 19-year-old from Pontypool will start on the wing in the European Challenge Cup clash with Enisei-STM at Slava Stadium (kick-off 1pm).

The Wales 7s international has enjoyed a steep learning curve this season after making his Dragons debut off the bench as a winger against Leinster, playing as a replacement again in the win over Connacht and then starting in midfield in last week’s loss at Newcastle.

Rosser, who played in the last two World Rugby U20 Championships, has been thrown in by head coach Bernard Jackman and has done well.

Some of the credit for that goes to ex-South Africa international Zane Kirchner, who was helping skills coach Barry Maddocks to mentor the young Dragons backs even before he was sidelined by a dislocated shoulder.

“It’s really good having Zane here,” said former Abersychan Comprehensive pupil Rosser. “With his injury he has taken a step back from training and helps the back three out a lot.

“He is always watching training from the stand and anything he can help out with, he does. He keeps himself to himself and that’s why when he does talk to you about something, you really listen.”

Rosser has been joined in making an impression in the early stages of the season by his former Wales Under-20s teammates Will Talbot-Davies and George Gasson, who started in the back three in Newcastle.

Their emergence played a part in Tom Prydie’s summer departure to the Scarlets and even Hallam Amos and Ashton Hewitt, at just 23 and 22 respectively, have youngsters nipping at their heels.

“It’s crazy because you wouldn’t class Hallam and Ashton as old players but their experience in the game is helping us younger players come through,” said Rosser.

“They have a lot of things that they can bring to other people’s games and it’s good to have them here – we are a tight bunch and everybody is working for each other.”

Rosser probably would have made his Dragons bow last season were it not for a Wales call-up to the World Rugby Sevens Series but is now learning fast.

“It’s been really good, I had a few spells with the first team in the PRO14 and last weekend in Europe. PRO14 was tough but then going up against a big English team in Newcastle was an eye-opener,” he said.

“My first Premiership club was Ebbw Vale and that was a big step up at the time, playing adult rugby. Each step up has its challenges and at the moment I am trying to keep my performances up.”

The next trial is a date against Enisei-STM with Rosser on the right wing.

“I’ve never played against a Russian team so I am looking forward to seeing what they bring,” said Rosser.

“As long as we are accurate and take what we have done in training onto the pitch we will be good. Accuracy and attitude are the biggest things away from home in a tough place like Russia, we’ve got to be close as a group.

“We are going there with all respect and know that we’ve got turn up [with the right attitude] to get the win.”

Enisei’s XV features 12 players who played in the win against the Dragons in Krasnodar last season, including influential fly-half Iurii Kushnarev.

Enisei-STM: R Gaisin, J Baranovs, D Kacharava, D Gerasimov, I Kurashov, I Kushnarev, A Shcherban, A Polivalov, S Selskii, I Zykov, U Saulite (captain), V Krasylnyk, M Gachechiladze, A Rudoi. Replacements: N Gasanov, V Morozov, V Podrezov, E Elgin, A Budychenko, K Uzunov, S Trishin, V Orlov.

Dragons: H Amos, J Rosser, T Morgan, P Howard, G Gasson, A O’Brien, S Pretorius, L Garrett, E Dee, L Brown, J Davies, C Hill (captain), A Wainwright, O Griffiths, J Benjamin. Replacements: G Ellis, T Davies, L Fairbrother, R Landman, J Thomas, C Davies, G Henson, A Warren.

Referee: Ian Tempest (England)