Longbottom shoulders new role in Force scrum

[The InnFORCEr]

The West Australian
Nick Taylor
The West Australian
December 17, 2013, 7:46 am



Kieran Longbottom has packed down on both sides of the scrum for the Western Force, but will be focusing solely on anchoring the pack at tighthead prop next season.

He began life at the Force at loosehead and has been used in both positions but now the switch to the No. 3 jumper is permanent.

Tighthead is hardly the most glamorous position in the side but is a crucial role, with success in the scrum firmly on his shoulders. Most of the work goes unseen in the close combat of the scrum, line-out, rucks and mauls where the one aim is to destroy the opposition.

But Longbottom would not have it any other way.

"I've been told to focus on tighthead, to lock that position down, own that position," he said.

"I want to become the rock that our scrum can be built around and take the scrum forward."

Longbottom, 27, is the first born-and-raised West Australian to come through the Force academy and into the Super squad.

He started with Rockingham juniors in the RugbyWA competition, played for the WA Gold representative side and was a member of the Perth Spirit squad in the Australian Rugby Championship before making his Force debut against the Chiefs in 2008.

He needs just nine more caps to reach 50 appearances.

"That will be a milestone I'll be happy with but it is a small thing in the bigger scheme of things here at Force," Longbottom said.

"Pre-season has been tough, real tough but all the boys are prescribing to it. They are hitting records and personal bests every which way. They are smashing records every other day."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...n-force-scrum/

[GIGS20]

Tighthead is hardly the most glamorous position in the side but is a crucial role, with success in the scrum firmly on his shoulders.

Didn't a wise man once say
"the first person picked on any rugby team is the Tighthead Prop, and the second person picked is the reserve Tighthead Prop"

[prop53]

The Engine room of the team

[bunter]

You da man K Bomb.

[James]

Makes me curious where we will see our various props this season. With the 2 props on the bench rule we will pretty much see an end to props who play both sides of the scrum. Everyone will become a specialist. We have Cowan as a specialist 1. We now have Longbottom specialising at 3. Heiberg a specialist 3 I think. What does that mean for Faulkner and Manu? Both guys played some games at 3 last season and both of them looked good there. Oli Hoskins is also a specialist 3.

[zimeric]

ollie might be raw enough to mould into a 1.. no way he'd hang around as a specialist 3 if there is a 4-way fight for the top job

[GAFFA]

ollie might be raw enough to mould into a 1.. no way he'd hang around as a specialist 3 if there is a 4-way fight for the top job

He has already turned down the Rebels EPS to stay in Perth in the Wider Training he wont be going anywhere.

I think he is to tall for a 1 he would struggle to get under his oppt. He is a rock at 3 as shown in the Aus u20 that’s where he will play. For a Prop he is huge so he will look to be more the Carl Hayman type power prop who just stands there takes the first push then rips in once the Loosehead give up.

Also remember he will get a big shot wit the new 3rd tier side.

[James]

ollie might be raw enough to mould into a 1.. no way he'd hang around as a specialist 3 if there is a 4-way fight for the top job

We wouldn't want to mould him into a 1. Manu, Longbottom and Cowan are all off contract at the end of next season. We don't know if they will all stay. Hoskins was great in the last U20 World Cup. Scrummed well and carried very, very well. Got a huge reception from the French crowd when he came off against the New Zealand U20s. If he can keep up that rate of progression, he will probably start getting game time in 2015. At the moment, I'd rate Hoskins as next in line after Kyle Godwin as fully WA produced Wallabies.

[Stone Cold]

We wouldn't want to mould him into a 1. Manu, Longbottom and Cowan are all off contract at the end of next season. We don't know if they will all stay.

Bugger all chance of those boys moving unless they aren't offered contracts here

[James]

Bugger all chance of those boys moving unless they aren't offered contracts here

I'd like to think so. Although I wouldn't blame Longbottom or Cowan for wanting to do a stint in Japan or Europe. I hope Manu stays. I was rewatching the Force v Brumbies game to finish our season and Manu was very solid at 3 against a Wallabies front row. Other teams might be interested in nabbing him. If he keep his form up, the Rebels will likely come sniffing.