George Taylor admits he had to swallow hard and pause before he knocked on head coach Richard Cockerill’s office door – but that he knows now it was the best thing he’s done as a professional player.
The young centre has newly signed an extension to his Edinburgh contract and impressed greatly in his opportunities, and all this after he had to go to face Cockerill to find out whether he’d play this season at all.
The 22-year-old had a few isolated appearances last year but after not getting even a look in pre-season, he feared the worst for the new season. That’s when he plucked up the courage to go and speak to the boss man to man.
“After pre-season it didn’t seem like I would play much this season,” he said. “I didn’t get any game time in pre-season against Ospreys or London Scottish and that was quite hard to take.
“So I went to see Cockers which was a tough thing to do, and quite daunting. Did I pause before knocking? Yeah, for a while!”
Cockerill was forthright as usual, added Taylor.
“He said, `You’re a 13. I’m not going to drop Mark Bennett or Jimmy Johnstone’. And I said I can play 12, and he said, `I didn’t know that’.
“So he gave me the opportunity to train a bit there and he was pleased with what he saw. I got on the bench, got my opportunity and it’s all gone from there. Now he knows I can play 12!
“He said he appreciated me going to speak to him and clearing up that I could do several positions.
“It was all from my annoyance and not getting game time at pre-season that I asked to speak to him. I wanted to see where I stood in the squad.
“He explained things, he’s always straight-up, a very honest man. I think in the light of everything it was the best thing I could have done.”
Taylor can also cover full-back in a pinch, but while he enjoys the freedom of playing 13, he feels at home inside.
“After playing so much at 12 now, I’ll take that jersey when I can,” he said. “12’s a lot more physical, and I enjoy that aspect of the game.
“Training is the hardest when you’re knocking your pan in every day and knowing you won’t probably get selected at the weekend.
“It’s mentally demanding all the time but you have to keep on track and focused. If you slacken off then the boys ahead of you will progress.
“Last year I didn’t get a lot of a game time last year and felt quite fresh but maybe not as comfortable going into games because I’ve not had the exposure to match fitness and the physicality.
“But now it’s great because I’ve had that most weeks.”
The help of the experienced players around him has been invaluable with that, adds Taylor.
“It’s been so good training alongside Mark Bennett and Matt Scott, they’ve been there and done it, so I was just gathering up all that the experience I can from them,” he said.
“It’s great to have respect and trust from guys around you. For team chemistry it’s good they’re not worrying about someone new coming in and making mistakes. It’s a lot easier for me now knowing I can slot in and do a job there.
“I’ve spoken quite a lot to Chris Dean, Mark and Matt. They’ve said `look, your opportunity will come, there will be injuries’, and I listen to them because they’ve been through it.
“They helped me a lot, and obviously they were right.”