IT may not be ultimate braai weather but Newport Gwent Dragons scrum-half Sarel Pretorius hopes to show that he’s a man for all seasons.

The 32-year-old makes his return to the XV for this evening’s Guinness PRO12 encounter with Treviso at Rodney Parade (kick-off 7.15pm).

The South African has had to get used to adding vim and vigour off the bench in recent times with Tavis Knoyle handed the 9 jersey for five of the last six games.

However, after the former Wales scrum-half endured an off night in challenging conditions against the Ospreys on New Year’s Day, Pretorius starts tonight.

When he headed to Wales from the Cheetahs in the summer of 2015 he held the record of having scored more tries than any other scrum-half in Super Rugby history.

He has shown that eye for the line and a sharp turn of pace in Dragons colours but believes he has become a better all-round player.

“I like a running game but you can’t run in the weather that we had against the Ospreys last week,” said Pretorius.

“It was very tough and both teams went out with a kicking mindset, it wasn’t pretty but at the end of the day the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins.

“The Ospreys did the small things right and won the kicking battle, that’s why they won 10-0.

“Back home it’s always dry and you can throw the ball around. I didn’t kick that much so had to learn to kick and I’m still working hard with Shaun (Connor, backs coach) to try and improve.

“I’ve been here a year and a half and I think I’ve improved a lot and I back myself to be a kicking scrum-half as well. Here I have to adapt (to the weather) and I came here to work on that part of my game.

“Normally it’s 30 to 32 degrees back home and here it’s 2 or 3, very wet and so muddy! You have to be tough in the mind and look after the small details, taking the ball properly (at the breakdown) or it will slip out of your hands.”

The affable and positive Pretorius is an influential figure at the Dragons’ Ystrad Mynach training base and, with another year on his contract, is pleased that two of his compatriots have committed to fresh deals.

Lock Rynard Landman and tighthead Brok Harris headed to Wales a year before him and will stay until at least 2019.

The South African contingent also includes wing Pat Howard and full-back Carl Meyer and the quintet frequently meet up in the suburbs of Cardiff where four of them are based (Meyer lives on-site at Rodney Parade).

Pretorius said: “Before they signed I didn’t know if they were going to stay or not… now they have I am happy because they are a couple of experienced players and good leaders but it’s also a help for the families.

“At weekends we can get together for a braai if the weather allows it or watch some rugby while the kids are playing around, although me and Brok don’t sit together if the Cheetahs are playing the Stormers!

“You don’t have your own family here but we are all family now.”

Kingsley Jones makes two other changes to his XV to face Treviso with wing Tom Prydie coming in for Ashton Hewitt, who has a minor knee injury, while Adam Warren gets the nod in midfield.

Centre Jack Dixon and flanker Nic Cudd are back from injury to be among the replacements.

Dragons: C Meyer, T Prydie, T Morgan, A Warren, P Howard, A O’Brien, S Pretorius, P Price, E Dee, B Harris, N Crosswell, C Hill, L Evans (captain), O Griffiths, E Jackson. Replacements: R Buckley, S Hobbs, L Fairbrother, R Landman, N Cudd, T Knoyle, D Jones, J Dixon.

Treviso: L McLean, A Pratichetti, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi (captain), L Sperandio, T Allan, T Tebaldi, A De Marchi, D Giazzon, M Zanusso, M Fuser, D Budd, A Steyn, R Barbieri, M Barbini. Replacements: O Gega, F Zani, T Pasquali, F Paulo, M Lazzaroni, G Bronzini, I McKinley, T Iannone.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)