Ashley Johnson is hooking up to a whole new ball game

Ashley Johnson might have the No.16 on his training shorts, but the newly- converted hooker has warned his Wasps rivals he will not just make up the numbers when the season starts.
The South African revealed the switch to front row from flanker was on the cards midway through last season and, after a successful trial against London Welsh in April, it was confirmed he’d be looking to spearhead the Wasps scrum on a full-time basis.
The bulky and devastating ball carrier has been a hit since joining Wasps from the Cheetahs in 2012 but, now aged 29, he was in need of a new challenge and it was time to make the switch first proposed a decade ago.
“Jake White told me to move to hooker when I was 18 and so did Naka Drotske at the Cheetahs but no-one had really given me the time to do it until this year,” he exclusively told The Rugby Paper.
“I talked about it with Dai Young a couple of seasons ago but he wanted to see how I actually got on before deciding or whether it was a good idea or not. I played three of four games there last season and it went well.
“On top of that, we’ve got some very good players in the back row and the arrival of George Smith only adds to that so we thought it was the right time to make the transition.
“Dai has put me in the best possible place to make a successful switch. Andy Titterrell has been helping me a lot too,especially with the lineout.
“I’m really enjoying it and I feel like I’m 18 again breaking into the first team. You never stop learning as a rugby player but I’d reached a stage in my career where I wasn’t learning from other players but rather teaching the new generation. I pick up new things at training every day now and I’m learning all the time.
“I want to make an impression and make sure my teammates are confident with me at hooker. I don’t want to make up the numbers and, although we have two very good hookers in Carlo Festucia and Ed Shervington, I want to push them for a spot.
“The club is ambitious and so am I. I’ve got No.16 at the minute and the boys have been saying I’ll be on the bench but I want to challenge for a starting place.”
Between scrummaging and throwing, Johnson is fully occupied trying to master new skills but his switch coincides with the longest Premiership pre-season in history giving more time to be ready when the season starts at Harlequins on October 16.
His conditioning regime is already showing in his new Under Armour kit but fans can still expect those barnstorming runs and bone-crunching tackles.
He said: “Throwing is for a hooker what kicking is to a fly-half and you just have to practise on your own for hours. We have a very good pack and we’re looking to base our game on it. So if I want the switch to be success I’ve got to be good at scrummaging and throwing. That’s my main job.
“We had the best lineout in the league last season so I’ll be under pressure to deliver. I’ve been working really hard in the gym to get my neck and shoulders stronger. I’m also trying to replicate scrum fatigue in the gym by doing squats and then runs. It’s key for me and I’ll have to be a bit fitter.
“I’m quite an explosive player but a scrum is nine to 12 seconds long so I have to make sure I can lock in and support the load.
“I’ve been a back row all my life and I love to carry the ball and tackle. I’ll be looking to make an impact as much as I can but I’ll have to make sure I’m not too tired from scrummaging.”
Between the purchase of the Ricoh Arena and the Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulon, last season was a huge success for Wasps but Johnson doesn’t want it to be a flash in the pan.
They want to be among the top clubs year-in year-out and confirming their Champions Cup status will be a must next season.
“We want to be competitive in the best competition there is. It’s a tough group but we want to be playing against the best. Toulon and Leinster won the European Cup three times each and Bath were in the Premiership final.
“Wasps have a great history in this competition but as a squad we’re new to it so, in a way, the pressure will be on the other teams.”
NICK VERDIER
*Ashley Johnson was speaking at the launch of Wasps’ new Under Armour kit for the 2015/16 season. www.waspsshop.co.uk