0
Article from:
Nick Taylor
October 24, 2009 07:00pm
WESTERN Force prop Pek Cowan could be looking at a new life in the front row.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has handed Cowan Australia's third hooking spot on the grand slam tour behind Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau.
It is a position the Force is still looking to fill after the loss of the experienced Tai McIsaac and second string rake Luke Holmes from last season's squad.
The side's most experienced hooker is former Australia A Schools representative Ben Whittaker, who only played 56 minutes of Super rugby in three games last season.
The only other option is Ryan Tyrell, from Rockingham, who has been moved from the flank by Force coaching staff.
A specialist loosehead prop with three Test caps, Cowan has not played hooker in a competition game.
"The possibility of moving to hooker was pitched to me at the start of the year,'' Cowan said.
"Robbie (Deans) asked me if I would consider covering all the options in the front row.
"After the Tri-Nations, we stepped up the process. It has been a real learning and practising process.''
His first real scrummaging at hooker came during the Wallabies' inter-squad trial two weeks ago.
"That's probably as hard a scrum as you could get. A spot on the tour was at stake,'' he said.
"There was full noise, but it didn't feel uncomfortable. It was actually quite enjoyable and satisfying being right in the middle of it.
"I've played both sides of the scrum and they are putting a lot of trust in me but I'll do anything to get another Test and one more after that and one more after that.''
Despite getting set to squeeze into the middle of the front row, Cowan is determined not to sacrifice his long hair.
"I'll be keeping the headgear on. I saw how Tai's ears ended up and I'll be holding onto the hair for as long as possible,'' he said
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005403,00.html