THE rapid rise of Newport Gwent Dragons hotshot Tyler Morgan is ensuring the old dogs of the Wales midfield are learning new tricks, according to Jamie Roberts.

The 29-year-old Lions ace will renew his partnership with Jonathan Davies for Sunday’s Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin after the Clermont Auvergne man missed the World Cup because of knee ligament damage.

Morgan and Cory Allen are their back-ups for the tournament, although the Dragons man is still recovering from the shoulder injury that he suffered in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa.

Roberts and Davies have started 39 Tests together and are the most-established midfield combo in world rugby but the inside centre says they are being kept on their toes by the next generation.

“Obviously we’re both athletic, big guys, and we’ve worked hard on improving our passing skills, reading each other in attack and defence and letting things become second nature,” said Roberts.

“We expect high standards of each other, and the environment here demands high standards of everyone.

“It’s important that Jon and I as senior players push those standards, and look to help develop the younger players, like Cory Allen and Tyler Morgan.

“Those guys will wear the centre jerseys for Wales in the future but I’m enjoying the partnership with Jon, and we have to look to develop it further.

“You’re never too old to learn and it’s important for us to keep improving our understanding.

“There is quality in this squad and if you have a poor game you place is under threat. That fear of failure is something that has driven me a lot in my career and still does.”

Roberts slotted in next to Morgan in the World Cup encounters with Fiji and the Springboks and has been impressed by the 20-year-old from Caerleon.

The 74-times capped Harlequins man believes another spell in Wales camp will aid the development of the youngster, who has just 23 Dragons appearances to his name.

“I remember when I was a younger player in camp learning from experienced players,” said Roberts, who made his Test debut on the wing in the 2008 Grand Slam.

“You can only learn so much from coaches and from my time at the Blues I learnt from Tom Shanklin, Casey Laulala and Jamie Robinson, taking little things off senior players.”

He continued: “Tyler came in and did great at the World Cup. He played superbly well in a World Cup quarter-final.

“Those sort of experiences, he’ll learn from for the rest of his career. He’ll look back on that with hugely fond memories”