“I've had a good run,” Thom told The Times. “The important thing now is to take that into the game against New Zealand. I am looking forward to it. I can't wait for Saturday to come now.”
“I feel I have improved and become more of an all-round player instead of just an out-and-out paceman. I have worked hard on my game and that has really helped me. My positioning was the big problem - if you're only slightly out of position they can exploit it with a chip into the gap or something like that.
“I am going to take everything I have learnt into this game. It was my dream when I was younger to play against the All Blacks with their superstars all across the team. The important thing, though, is not to get caught up in the moment but to play my own game.
“Playing at Firhill has made me an even better player.I have had to come off my wing to look for work. Now, playing on a pitch like Murrayfield, if I do get a chance one-on-one, I would hope to use my pace to exploit the extra room.
“It is a good back division to be part of, the attacking threat is there and we want to go out and show the best team in the world what we can do. We have the licence to play it as we see it and really have a crack. We are under orders to play it as we see, not just go through with a move because it has been called, but if things change, to adapt to it.”