Prior keen on fresh challenge
New Western Force scrum-half Ian Prior is under no illusions about the challenge of getting to the top of the Super Rugby tree.
He started his career at the Queensland Reds where he had Wallaby Will Genia ahead of him.
He moved to the ACT Brumbies in 2012 and found himself battling new Wallaby Nic White.
Prior's two-year deal with the Force will see him snapping at the heels of former All Black Alby Mathewson, one of the Force's top performers last season. In turn, he will have Ryan Louwrens and Justin Turner nipping at his heels for the No.9 jumper.
Prior, who has 29 Super appearances, has tasted some success and is relishing the challenge.
The 2010 Australian under-20 representative was in the Reds' 2011 Super Rugby championship- winning team and started for the Brumbies in their 14-12 win over the British and Irish Lions.
He was in the ACT side that lost last season's final to the Chiefs.
"Alby is a great half-back," Prior said. "We're always pretty competitive blokes, us nines. It's going to be a good challenge.
"But there's Justin Turner and Ryan Louwrens, who are also very good so it's good for the squad.
"There's a lot of competition and competition drives success."
Prior and former Force academy pupil Zack Holmes, who both came from the Brumbies, spoke about the move before making their decision.
"We discussed it. We were in South Africa at the time and we had similar ideas about what we could bring over," Prior said.
"We were excited about coming over and the challenge … new team, new coach, new systems.
"We've done a lot together at the Brumbies, training together and playing together.
"We had a good combination there and we know each other's thinking and what we are looking for in certain situations.
"When I went to the Brumbies there had been a large clean out of staff and players the year before.
"This year (at the Force) the coaching staff are set in their ways and the systems are in place. It has been good getting used to them. It's exciting.
"The established guys know what is expected and the new guys have to fit in and help drive those standards."
