Thomas caps 'mad year'

Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas admits starting his first RBS 6 Nations Championship game against Ireland in Dublin tomorrow will be a boyhood dream come true.

Thomas might have burst onto the international stage in the World Cup but his real ambition has always been to figure in a Six Nations Championship.

The Neath-Swansea Ospreys forward came on as a replacement in the 23-10 win against Scotland last week, but the Irish clash will see him make his first championship start at the expense of injured Wales captain Colin Charvis.

It will cap off a hectic past year for him. Last season saw him play for Wales Under-21s against Ireland on the way to a Grand Slam, but since then he has played for Wales in the World Cup and has captained Swansea and the Ospreys - and he is still only 21.

“It has been a mad year really. I don’t know where I am sometimes,” he admitted.

“It was great playing in the World Cup but I’m just looking forward to making a start in the Six Nations. It’s a blow for Colin and I’m gutted for him but I’m looking forward to taking my chance.

“I suppose it’s strange to play in a World Cup before taking part in the championship.

“But in some ways playing in the Six Nations means more because it’s the tournament I grew up dreaming of playing in. It’s got such history.

“I have real memories of the championship. I suppose my first real highlight was when Ieuan (Evans) scored his try at the Arms Park in 1993 when I was about 11. I had played rugby before then but that game really turned me on to it.

“As well as that was the next year when Wales won the Five Nations title.”

That obviously captured the imagination.

“And who can forget the win in 1999 when Wales beat England with Scott Gibbs’ late try?

“When I was growing up the championship was just a major part of the calendar. Like every other kid growing up in Wales I loved it when the Six Nations came around.

“As well as the England wins, Wales’ trips to Ireland seem to stand out as well because we have such a good record over there.”

But he knows that it will be a tough afternoon against a top-quality back row.

“The Irish have got great back-row resources. They probably have about seven or eight players who they could have picked and are all very accomplished.

“It will be an intense physical game and we will try to match them.

“Simon Easterby is a great player who has done a superb job for Llanelli over the last few years. He is very disruptive in the contact area and I am expecting more from him on Sunday.”

Thomas believes there is a real determination in the Wales squad to do well in this year’s tournament after last year’s whitewash, which included the humiliating defeat at the hands of Italy in Rome in the opening game.

“I wasn’t involved last season but there is a determination to make up for last year’s championship.

“On top of that it is Steve Hansen’s last championship as coach and we will want to send him back to New Zealand with something to remember him by.

“Perhaps people have been a bit impatient with him because of him stressing the importance of performance over results but I think his approach is starting to bear fruits for Welsh rugby.”