Gavin Thornbury captains Connacht for the first time in Saturday's season opener against Ulster and the talented lock is determined to put his injury problems behind him and rights the wrongs of the last campaign.
While most Connacht fans were glad to see the back of last season, for Thornbury it was lousy timing. He had returned in April following 11 months out after a series of setbacks with a shoulder injury, but within five games the season had reached its conclusion.
However, with a positive pre-season under his belt, Thornbury is ready to make up for lost time.
"It was nice to get a full pre-season in," he told RTÉ Sport. "Obviously last year didn't go to plan and it was quite tough personally. Just to be out on the pitch and training every day, it’s very good.
"I’m so excited to get ripped into [the new season]. The squad is in a really good place, pre-season has been really good. You just really want to get started.
"It’s been a long couple of months. It was productive and I really enjoyed it, but it’s time to get the season going now."
Connacht director of rugby Andy Friend backed Conor Fitzgerald and David Hawkshaw to step in at out-half against Ulster after captain Jack Carty was ruled out due to injury
Connacht strengthened during the close season, with Thornbury’s former Ireland U20 team-mates Peter Dooley and Adam Byrne moving west from Leinster along with David Hawkshaw and Josh Murphy.
Thornbury and Murphy were in opposing second rows when the former made his first start of last season, the pair facing off in both legs of Connacht’s Heineken Champions Cup tie against Leinster.
They dovetailed nicely in the pre-season win over Sale, where Connacht’s maul caused problems for the Premiership side, and are both named in the starting line-up for the trip to Belfast.
"He’s an experienced bloke," said Thornbury of Murphy. "He’s very intelligent and a very good player, constantly teaching us stuff. He has got a great attitude towards it.
"I’ve played with him and against him over the years. He’s a very good athlete, is smart and has got that edge about him as well. He showed what he was about against Sale. I’m hoping he will build on that."
Thornbury is entering his sixth season with Connacht, who have been handed a daunting start. After their BKT United Rugby Championship opener at Ulster, they travel to South Africa for back-to-back games against last season’s finalists, the Stormers and Bulls, with Munster and Leinster then visiting Galway upon their return.
"It’s a very tough opener but it’s also massively exciting," said Thornbury, who captains Connacht on his 64th appearance for the province.
"You want these challenges. Ulster have made [Kingspan Stadium] a fortress but it’s something we’re really looking forward to. We want to rip into it."
Having spent a fortnight in South Africa in April, where Connacht became the first Irish side to win on South African soil, Thornbury sees the benefits of another two-week tour so early in the season.
"You get to know people," he said. "It was a really good trip. Getting the win over there [against the Lions] was big but we wanted two wins. It’s something we can build on this year when we go over again.
"It’s earlier in the season this time so it’s a really good way to build the squad and bond together."
Thornbury turns 29 next month but his Ireland ambitions have not dimmed. Witnessing the impact his Connacht team-mates made after returning home from New Zealand has only increased his desire for international honours.
"You get the energy from them but you also get a massive learning," he said. "Pete [Wilkins] especially, just having gone over there and seen how they coach and set up their sessions, he has come back and added a lot to the set-up.
"The lads are feeding information straight away and they see things slightly differently. It helps our game. They’ve been brilliant. They’re speaking in team meetings, showing things individually. It was a great experience for them and it has been great for us as well."
Thornbury spoke positively of the coaching reshuffle at Connacht, with Andy Friend promoted to director of rugby and Wilkins moving into the role of head coach while also taking responsibility for defence.
"Everyone is more comfortable," he said. "Last year we had a lot of new coaches, or coaches in different positions. Everyone now knows the way we want to play.
"The understanding is there now. It’s just about executing it. That’s the most exciting thing – once you’ve got the understanding of how we want to play, it’s just execution. That’s how we can really come alive in those first few games."
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