NEWPORT Gwent Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones believes full-back Carl Meyer is going from strength to strength in his first season as a professional, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 24-year-old South African earned a full-time deal by impressing with Ebbw Vale last year and has established himself in the XV.

He has missed just one game – when a tight hamstring meant he had to pull out of the European Challenge Cup loss at Sale late on – and produced a sterling display in challenging conditions in the much-needed Guinness Pro12 win against Leinster last Friday.

Jones said: "We have been talking to Carl about getting 10 metres more with his kicking because if you see him in training, wow it's incredible!

"He managed that against Leinster and it did make a big difference, particularly in the first half. It changes the shape of the game when you go from your 22 to a lineout well inside the opposition's half.

"It was an error-free game from someone we picked up from Ebbw Vale and in their first season at this level. Conditions like that are tough for full-backs but he did really well.

"All you want is improvement from any young or inexperienced players, if they learn from their errors then we will keep giving them a chance. Carl has and he has improved a great deal."

The Dragons will monitor injuries to back row forwards Lewis Evans (calf) and Nick Crosswell (foot) today ahead of Friday's trip to Ulster.

The former pulled out in the warm-up last weekend, meaning lock Rynard Landman shifted back into the second row, and the latter limped off in the second half.

The Dragons now have just two fit specialist back row forwards – openside Nic Cudd and James Benjamin, who is primarily a seven but has also played blindside and number eight.

"Because of the weather conditions I decided to go with the big man straight away rather than James Benjamin and Nic Cudd," said Jones.

"I felt we needed the bigger pack for a drive and maul night. We got away with it but it's difficult with a big second row defending at the back of the scrum."