Longbottom shoulders new role
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."
