Fidow’s learning to love scrums
As the ‘‘flak and things’’ flew, Alex Fidow knew he was in the right place and right profession.
A Hurricanes training partner, the tighthead prop was on the sideline at Ellis Park for the team’s Super Rugby semifinal loss to the Lions last month.
In June, Fidow won an under-20 world cup title with New Zealand. Last Sunday, he marked his first start as a Wellington Lion by scoring a try in their 41-29 win over Manawatu in Palmerston North.
For a boy who only turned 20 last week, Fidow has already done plenty in his rugby career. There’s every indication there will be a lot more to come but - for the time being - nothing beats those few days in Johannesburg as training paddock fodder for the Hurricanes.
‘‘Being in Ellis Park, it was an amazing atmosphere. Those South Africans are a really proud rugby nation and they were throwing us a lot of flak and things,’’ Fidow said.
‘‘I enjoyed all the new experiences that I faced over there, like almost passing out a few times at training. It gave me a good taste of what the professional rugby environment is like.
‘‘It’s what I pictured in my dreams and it’s what I want to do going forward.’’
At 1.87 metres and 133kg, Fidow is an imposing figure. He actually clocked in a few kilograms heavier in his days at Scots College, where his bullocking runs helped carry the team to the 2014 national title, before being beaten finalists the following year.
On reflection, Fidow probably loved running with the ball ‘‘more than I should’’.
Props are measured by different things as they progress through the grades and it will be set-piece prowess that determines whether Fidow goes on to fulfil his obvious potential.
‘‘The boys are definitely changing my mindset to scrumming first and whatever comes after that is a bonus,’’ he said.
Fidow played some loosehead prop off the bench for Wellington last year ‘‘to build my confidence.’’
This time around he’s playing on his favoured tighthead side and copping just as hard a time at training as he is on match days. ‘‘I’m just getting under the wing of guys like Jeff [To’omagaAllen] and Reggie [Goodes] and they’re teaching me the tricks of the trade,’’ said Fidow.
‘‘I’m starting to like [scrummaging] but I have had to learn to love it.’’
He roomed with To’omaga-Allen on that trip to Johannesburg and has been amazed at how much actually goes into scrummaging.
‘‘To be honest, everybody thinks props are dumb but they’re pretty smart, with all the technical work that goes on,’’ Fidow said.
With To’omaga-Allen off training with the All Blacks, Fidow will again start at tighthead for Wellington when they meet Taranaki at Westpac Stadium today. The visitors boast an impressive squad and should beat the Lions comfortably.
In the form of players such as Fidow and hooker Asafo Aumua, Wellington have some precociously talented players whose challenge this season will be to develop the good habits and consistency that set the Super Rugby and All Blacks stars apart.
‘‘I grew up watching the Lions and watching Jerry [Collins] and Tana [Umaga] and it was always my dream and even now it’s still a dream - to play for the Lions. I never thought I could get to where I am and now I’ll just keep trucking along.’’