A season of training and learning from his childhood hero WP Nel has left up-and-coming Scottish tighthead prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty in great shape and ready for the biggest match of his fledgling career on Friday evening.
Blyth-Lafferty, who only turned 18 on April 6, will be starting in the number three jersey for Scotland in the Pool A decider versus Japan in the men’s under-20 World Rugby Trophy at 7.45pm at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh.
And anyone watching the match, which will determine who tops the group and goes through to next Wednesday’s final, will not be able to miss him given that he currently tips the scales at 131kgs and is 6 foot 4.
The former Firrhill High School pupil from the capital, who came through the ranks at Boroughmuir, has been the most talked about young players in this country over the last 12 months.
It is easy to see why given his physique while, in his first year of adult rugby, he has played for the Future XV in the Super Series and helped Currie Chieftains win the Premiership title.
He also played for Scotland under-18s at the Six Nations Festival in Parma after World Rugby laws denied him a chance of playing in the under-20 Six Nations at the last minute as he was only 17 at the time.
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All good experiences, but the most important one for him has been working with scrummaging guru WP Nel at Edinburgh Rugby since late last year.
“From a young age I looked up to WP Nel, I remember going to Edinburgh games, watching him play and thinking ‘I want to do what he is doing and be like him’,” Edinburgh full-time academy member Blyth-Lafferty said.
“WP is a great guy to learn from. When I first went into Edinburgh last summer he was away on international duties, but once he came back from the World Cup I instantly wanted to learn from him and he took me under his wing straight away.
“He showed me lots of things that he does while a lot of the work we have done together has been focused on the things I can get better at.
“He was 37/38 when I was working with him while I was 17/18, so I just wanted to learn all of the time and he has been such a good mentor for me, the time I have spent with him has been invaluable.
“He made it clear to me that all tightheads are different and that you have to use the skills you have - such as your height and size - to your advantage.
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“I am miles away from where I want to be yet, but his help and support has given me confidence.”
Going into this game, Scotland under-20s have beaten Samoa 123-15 and Hong Kong China 101-0 with Japan given those sides similar beatings.
Blyth-Lafferty, who will be in the starting Scottish front-row alongside older brother Jerry and Robbie Deans, added: “I think it’ll be a tough test.
“Japan are very solid scrummagers, but we have previewed them a lot and we are focused on how we can get the better of them in that area and also in the lineout and maul to give the team a platform to build from. We are all looking forward to it.”
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