Kevin Bryce was good enough as a hooker to get called up for the Rugby World Cup, but Scotland head coach Vern Cotter continually dropping hints changed his career path.
The Alloa boy has switched to tight head prop and made his debut for Edinburgh there against Leinster on Friday night, all stemming from a discussion aimed at stopping the usually straight-talking New Zealander form beating about the bush.
“It was Vern who approached me,” he recalled. “He had made a few passing comments during the World Cup and I just thought he was taking the mick.
“Then after about the third time I pulled him up on it and was like ‘look, mate, what’s going on here?’ and he took me aside and had a proper chat with me about it. He said there could be a chance for me as there wasn’t a whole lot of strength in depth at tighthead.”
“I was told it would be a long process but I was aware myself what I was taking on was a monumental task. Scrummaging is a massive technical part of the game at tighthead so I knew what I was getting into.
“It’s massively more technical now. I thought hooker was tough and you had a lot of pressure coming in on you but on the tight head hooker is like being in an armchair by comparison. Tow people attacking you is a lot more pressure.”
“I worked really hard with (forwards coach) Stevie Scott and WP has been great for me as well. We’re working against the other looseheads, just trying to get better.”
He was glad to get his first game experience, but it also made him admire the man who currently holds the 3 jersey for Edinburgh and Scotland even more.
“I was chuffed to bits to get on the pitch and get a run about, and Cian Healy as my first direct opponent was good, facing a Lion first up isn’t bad,” he said.
“But after 15 minutes and a couple of scrums I was feeling. WP regularly plays the whole 80 and fair play to him because I didn’t have a lot left in my legs after scrimmaging so hard. He’s a fit guy alright.”
He knows it’s far too early to be involved for Scotland probably this season, but it’s still an aim.
“It’s definitely a massive vote of confidence for the SRU to say to me to move to tighthead rather than me going to them,” he reasoned.
“I just need to keep racking up the minutes for Edinburgh. If I ever get the chance to get back in the national set-up as tighthead then I’ll grasp it with both hands.
This weekend in Munster at Thomond Park will be a huge test from Bryce, but he treats every week the same.
“To play against any team in the Pro12 is tough in the front row, even the Italians love a scrimmage,” he said. “Munster have a great tradition there and it’ll be great to take them on.”
Kevin and brother Glenn came through from Glasgow in the summer but they’ve both found a warm welcome in the capital.
“Both of us have settled really well. The transition has been easy because we’re Scottish, I live in Alloa just 40 minutes away.
“We’ve already got Grant Gilchrist and Sean Kennedy who are Alloa boys too, and knowing guys from the national set-up it’s been a seamless transfer.”
