Rugby: High praise won't turn this southern star's head

Adam Thomson has been in fine form. Photo / Getty Images

That Graham Henry said what the rest of us had been thinking wasn't a surprise - but what was unusual was that the All Blacks coach said it at all.

Henry isn't prone to lavish statements about players. He doesn't get caught up in hyperbole because it can be counter-productive, especially if talking about fringe All Blacks.

But in this case Henry was stating the obvious and knew the player wouldn't get carried away. If anything, it was a word of encouragement.

"Adam Thomson has been the star of the first month of Super 15 rugby, particularly from the New Zealand point of view," he said.

Thomson has been something of a symbol for the Highlanders. Written off by most prior to the season, the Highlanders have performed beyond expectations.

It will only get harder, and they fell heavily against the Crusaders last night, but they have impressed everyone with their results and work ethic. Thomson has been instrumental in that and scored last night.

If the World Cup squad were picked today, Thomson would be there. He wouldn't be a starter, with the loose trio of Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read clearly the best in the world, but he would have a crucial position on the bench.

Most see him as a blindside flanker, and it's where he plays most of his rugby, but his route back into the All Blacks is as McCaw's backup. Thomson is fast, explosive and a good lineout option and, crucially, he won't let you down.

The 28-year-old has never been far from the selectors' thoughts, even though he was overlooked for both last year's Tri Nations and end-of-year tour after coming off the bench in both June tests against Wales. It was something that hurt but, in hindsight, might have been the best thing for him.

"It was a bit of a shock for me," he says. "I thought I played pretty well in the Tri Nations the year before, especially the Bledisloe games and end-of-year tour. And to come in and not really get a crack disappointed me the most.

"I could understand if I started and didn't play well and was subsequently dropped but to get only a couple of 10-15 minute runs was disappointing. But even if I had made that Tri Nations squad, Jerome was playing well and to be a passenger and not be playing rugby would have hurt my game.

"To go away and play ITM Cup and sevens was probably better for me. I think I came back a better player from it."

It also helped he had a proper off-season, something he hadn't had for a while, and came back fresh for 2011.

For a period, it looked like he would have that pre-season with the Crusaders. He agonised over a move there before re-signing with the Highlanders last September.

"I had to weigh up my options," he says. "I am coming to a later stage in my career now and things weren't good down here. It wasn't a happy environment and we weren't winning. I had to look seriously at whether a move would help my rugby.

"When Jamie [Joseph] took over, he told me the things he wanted to do and I was excited to be a part of it. I liked the direction he was going, I liked his hard-nosed approach, and I liked the way he recruited.

"I have had a cruisy run but bringing guys like Jarrad Hoeta into the team pushes you. These guys are quality loose forwards and I knew, if I didn't play well, these guys would be more than happy to take my jersey."

Thomson seems to have adjusted to the law changes better this season. The All Blacks were looking for link players last year but Thomson, maybe because the Highlanders were doing a lot of it, was concentrating on his defence and work at the breakdown.

He had a stint with Gordon Tietjens' sevens squad to recapture his ball skills and running, before injury robbed him of a chance of playing at the Commonwealth Games.

Thomson was told about Henry's comments but doesn't want to think about them. There are still a couple of months before it really matters.

"It's nice, but it's early days," he says. "I'm not getting carried away. I'm well aware that people can talk you up and quickly talk you down.

"It's about being consistent and doing your own job. You know yourself if you're doing all right so you don't need those outside influences to tell you."

For the record, he's doing all right.