There was a time when the job of a prop was a lot more straightforward. Don’t take a step back in the scrum was the simple command. And while that role may still be top of the job description list for any perspective member of the front row union, the job criteria in the modern game carries a bit more weight.
Nowadays a front row forward must possess as many skills as anyone else.
While they may be forgiven for not possessing some obvious traits as a winger or full back, soft handling skills and the ability to beat the first man are now considered just some of the basic requirements for the modern-day rugby player.
It’s skills such as these that separates Scott Wilson from the rest.
Wilson broke into the Ulster senior set-up last season. His barnstorming line breaks and powerful scrummaging saw the Queens player promoted from the club academy. His progress was also noticed at national level too.
Having already gained recognition at U20 level, Wilson was included in last September’s Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa.
On Friday night past in Ulster’s crunch Champions Cup clash with Exeter, Wilson enhanced his growing reputation by pipping hat-trick hero Cormac Izuchukwu to the player of the match award.
Something that he thinks he may not have heard the last of.
“I would say Izzy will give me bit of a touch about that on Monday,” laughed Wilson.
“But man of the match awards isn’t why you play the game.
“You’re playing for the love of the game and the love of the club. So, the player of the match award is irrelevant when we have had such a tough run and the win means way more than the medal.”
After falling behind to two early Exeter tries on Friday night, Wilson felt that it was only a matter of time before Ulster would respond positively and record a first European win.
“It was a slow start and we knew that when we were under our posts twice early on and we knew we had to bounce back.
“Two of their tries in the first half came from silly errors from us around the breakdown. We knew we were doing well defensively and attacking we were slowly breaking them down.
“They are a big side and we knew if we could stick in it by half time and by sixty, we knew we could start playing our game and that’s how the game unfolded,” continued Wilson.
The win now ensures that Ulster will be involved in knockout rugby come the business end of the season. And mixing it with the cream of the crop of the club game is exactly where Wilson wants to be.
“Knockout rugby is the rugby you want to be playing in. Whether that’s Challenge cup, Champions Cup or league knock-out rugby, it’s the pinnacle of the season.
“What you sort of build yourself up for. So, it’s massive for the club.”
