Thomas meets Japanese challenge head on

Ryan Thomas in action for New Zealand v Japan in Tokyo on Wednesday. Credit Photosport.

A raucous stadium filled with almost 50,000 people cheering against you probably isn't an experience a teenager from Te Puke can easily prepare for, but All White Ryan Thomas has showed he is a young man capable of dealing with any challenges thrown his way.

Thomas (19) made his senior All Whites debut in today's international clash against Japan in Tokyo, a game which didn't begin so well for the young New Zealand team.

But after that initial rocky period left them in a 4-0 hole, the All Whites grew into the game against a Japanese side which is probably under-valued by a current FIFA ranking of 50, when you consider the likes of Manchester United and AC Milan stars Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda are in their incredibly destructive mix.

But Thomas, who played a central role in the team's improvement across the 90 minutes, said that after his early acclimatisation the game came easier for him.

"The first 10 minutes was very poor but after that we settled down, got the ball moving around a bit and I think we did well towards the end," Thomas said.

"I think at first the speed of their passing kind of caught me out a bit and how they disguise the passes is world class."

"I thought when I was on the ball I didn't think I got as much pressure on me as I thought I would and that was good for me to keep passing and I thought we did well in that , so I enjoyed my time -definitely."

After his first taste of the senior international environment, Thomas knows exactly where he wants to head - and his intentions are an exciting prospect for New Zealand fans.

"I'll definitely always work hard on trying to become better and especially with that experience I've got there; playing with those types of players in the team, as well as those players I've played against, I'll take a lot back to my club environment.

"I'll just keep working harder and harder to try and get better and better and then hopefully I can be on the same level as some of those players I've played against tonight."

And after Wednesday's introduction on such a stage, you'd back this 19-year-old from Te Puke to get there.