Wallabies forward Ned Hanigan has embraced the challenge of adding another position to his repertoire, as his NSW Waratahs battle to stay in Super Rugby finals contention.
Hanigan started his senior career as a lock, but most of his 20 Test caps have been earned as a blindside flanker.
He got a first Super start at No.8 last weekend and the 24-year-old has often packed down there at Waratahs training this year.
The Wallabies brains trust are apparently keen for him get more time and experience in that role.
"I don't really mind the back of the scrum," Hanigan said from South Africa, where the Tahs are in the middle of a two-game stand.
"it's always good to keep your skills in different positions, so I like the position
"Eight is a very unique position, there's a lot of things that an eight does that you need to get up-skilled on
"Throughout the year and the back end of last year I've been trying to do that. I think it adds to your versatility.
"Coaches and the players are sort of confident seeing you having trained that position and then going on to the field and having to play it, they know they can back you in that position."
Fourth in the Australian conference with a 4-6 record, and coming off successive losses, NSW need to beat the Lions in Johannesburg this weekend to boost their finals prospects.
They are just three points behind conference-leading Melbourne Rebels.
The Lions, losing finalists in each of the past three seasons, have endured a similarly inconsistent campaign and are bottom of the South African conference with a 5-5 record, but are only six points off top spot.
"The Lions at the moment are in a bit of a similar boat to us with a mixed bag of results," Hanigan said.
"I think it could be anyone's game on the night so we need to capitalise on the critical moments and just make sure that when we have that field position we focus on executing."
It's been a frustrating season of near misses for the Tahs, who earned a bonus point in five of their six losses for finishing with seven points and were beaten by eight on the other occasion
This weekend's game represents a second straight match at altitude for NSW.
"We don't really speak about it too much. You just know as a player who's played here before, you just call on that second wind a bit earlier," Hanigan said.
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