Crusaders front-rower Wyatt Crockett has continued to learn the art of tighthead propping in the off-season and hopes to put that into practice in the pre-season games leading into the Super 15 rugby competition.
A specialist loosehead prop, Crockett believes being able to prop either side of the scrum could aid his aspirations of an All Blacks recall. He was considered one of the unlucky ones to miss World Cup selection last year after an outstanding season for the Crusaders.
"I've put a bit of work into tighthead in the off-season and hopefully will get to have a crack in some of the trial games. I'm just starting to move into some live scrummaging at training," he said at a Crusaders practice on Thursday.
Crockett said it had not been that easy to make the transition but he was happier now after having persevered with the changes to technique.
"I tinkered with it last year but just doing more and more of it makes you start to feel a lot more comfortable.
"When I first got in there it felt like throwing left-handed – it was really that different."
Crockett said that would welcome any chance of playing at tighthead but it would not be at the expense of vacating the loosehead side.
"We're not short of tightheads and if it works that's great but if it doesn't then my main focus is still to be the best loosehead I can be and I don't want to detract from what I'm doing there."
Crockett said he had not planned any long-term goals.
"I just want to pick up from last year and try and improve. I guess I want to go out each week and perform really well and try and make an impact on games. In terms of selection that sort of stuff you can't control so you just worry about playing really well each week and being really consistent."
Refreshed after a break of 10 weeks, Crockett said that having a new trainer on board (Carl Jennings) had been helpful.
"He's got a few different ideas and that's been good for some of us who have been around for awhile. With his different methods and activities you find out some little weaknesses and that's a good thing because it gives you something to improve."
Crockett said the Crusaders newcomers had fitted seamlessly into the team and there was a strong camaraderie in the group.
"This time of year you do become really tight because you're working hard together and you see your mates giving it their all. That where those real mateships come from – working hard together and gaining respect. The guys who have come in have really lifted the bar and made some awesome gains."