Boom Wallabies’ back-rower and new cafe owner Scott Higginbotham has attributed his hot form on the field to keeping busy off it.
The rampaging Queensland Red has been one of the form forwards of the Super Rugby competition this season, and should earn a starting spot in Australia’s opening Test of the year against Scotland in Newcastle next week.
Higginbotham cited age, experience and looking after his Brisbane cafe, Leaf, which opened two weeks ago, as reasons for his scintillating form this year.
“I haven’t focused all my attention on the rugby, I’ve had other things outside of football which I’ve been working on and I suppose that all sort of helps,” Higginbotham said.
“It allows you to spend a bit of time away from the game and then come back in and focus on what you’re doing.”
Higginbotham said he enjoyed playing at both blindside flanker or No.8 but didn’t have a preference.
Former Wallabies’ captain and blindside flanker Rocky Elsom was left out of the Australian train-on squad, but Higginbotham doubted that would guarantee him a start in next month’s four Tests.
“I don’t think it helps, there’s still a lot of good back-rowers,” Higginbotham said.
“Dave Dennis, Ben McCalman, Cliffy (Wycliff Palu), all these guys can play six or eight, it doesn’t make it any easier.”
He has already played two Tests against Wales, who Australia will meet in a three-test series next month, after tackling the Scots.
Higginbotham recently signed on to play for Melbourne next year.
“It was definitely tough and by no means an easy decision and it took a couple of weeks and a lot of sleepless nights and a few tears to make up my mind,” Higginbotham said.
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