A challenge with a (big) difference

Interview with Reggie Corrigan: Reggie Corrigan's big frame fills the chair. He steeples his fingers, leaning forward, thoughtful as he unveils a layman's guide to the dark arts of front row play.

Tomorrow, at the Subiaco Oval in Perth, the importance of Corrigan's facility to master switching from loosehead to tighthead prop cannot be overstated.

If Ireland are to survive, let alone thrive, the Leinster captain will have to anchor the scrum, assured that Australia will target the novice tighthead.

Corrigan has won all his 20 caps for Ireland - he did come on and play tighthead against Fiji for a while - at loosehead and while he has worn the number three jersey in the past, tomorrow represents a quantum leap in quality.

To the uninitiated, playing on either side of the front row would seem to pose different problems but few appreciate the magnitude of those differences.

Corrigan chooses lay terms by way of explanation. "The way that I would compare tighthead to loosehead is like writing with your left hand as opposed to your right hand.

"There's that much of a difference and it is that difficult, tough to get the hang of, even though things have changed a little in terms of refereeing techniques and laws.

"It probably isn't as hard as it used to be five, six, seven years ago. It will be interesting to see what way the referee interprets the laws on Saturday."

His new vocation was borne of expediency. John Hayes was always going to miss the tour because of injury and so coach Eddie O'Sullivan needed to revise his options.

He was grateful that Corrigan stepped forward and the player has undergone a tighthead crash course under the supervision of Ireland scrum coach Tony D'Arcy, forwards coach Niall O'Donovan and a little phone tuition from Roly Meates.

It represents a far cry from his youth packing down alongside former Lions and Ireland loosehead Nick Popplewell in the Greystones front row.

Quite apart from the practical application at training, Corrigan has also undertaken a comprehensive video study of Australian loosehead Bill Young.

"They have a good front row. I've looked at Bill (Young) on video for a good few ACT games and Australia matches.

"He's a similar build to me in that he's quite tall, pretty strong upper body, so I'm expecting a fair old challenge.

"Tighthead is a much more demanding position to play," he adds. "The scrums would be twice as intense as they are at loosehead.

"You are working the instant you take the hit right through until break is called or the ball is gone.

As Corrigan muses about his conversion, it is suggested that the fundamental requirement to work harder at set-piece time could compromise his input in other facets of the game.

"It's much more physically demanding and that's why I have always admired John (Hayes) for his ability to play tighthead as well as he does and still get around and make as many tackles as he does.

"It's actually something I was thinking about after training today, how much it will take out of my contribution around the pitch?

"Hopefully not too much. I'd prefer it to be a dry day, not knock too many balls on and therefore they wouldn't be too many scrums.

"But," he says, "with this Perth weather you won't know what would happen" - a reference to the rain and wind that has assailed the Western Australia capital for most of the week.