Rory Thornton wants to see the Cardiff Blues pack picking up where they left off as they head into Sunday’s Guinness PRO14 encounter against Leinster.
The lock crossed for his first try in Cardiff Blues colours during last week’s victory over Benetton Rugby, as the pack impressed against a powerful forward unit.
But while Thornton is aware of the challenge ahead against the defending champions, he’s emphasised the importance of focusing on what his side can bring to the table in Dublin.
“Obviously it was pleasing to get my first try for Cardiff Blues, as I’m sure you could tell from the smirk as I got up,” said the Welsh international.
“There was a bit of stick! I had a lot of messages from boys back home and it was funny as they were all rinsing me, but I was just happy to get over. I think I nicked it off Dacey in the end so I think he was the most fuming.
“But overall it was about the team effort, and I think the pack, from the eight that started to the boys that came on, did a real good job and we’re in a strong place at the moment.
“That’s pleasing to see, and we’re painting that perception now that we’re a pack that can compete.
“But this week it’s about not letting the Treviso performance to be a one-off. We want to build on that and keep the momentum going.
“We know what Leinster are about, and we know what they’ll bring. But training this week, especially as a forward pack, has been focusing on ourselves. What we can bring to the party and what we can bring to them.
“It’s about getting our individual roles right and come together as a collective, forwards and backs linking up, and be ready for the weekend.
“There’s nothing to lose for us. We have to go out there and take it to them, and that’s been our focus all week as a playing group. Everyone has bought into that.
“Their squad depth is very good. They’ve got Devin Toner, Scott Fardy but you come up against a lot of very good second rows by playing in this league and Europe over the years.
“It will be interesting, and I think I’ve only come up against Fardy once before but you know he’s a physical guy and is a good line-out forward.
“It’s about making sure that we know what they’ll bring and preparing ourselves well. We need to go out and execute that now.”
Thornton is now into his third season with the region, after his loan move in 2018 was made permanent the following summer.
However, having overcome a series of injuries, the 25-year-old is confident that he’s getting back to his best.
“I’m feeling very good at the moment, in my body and mentally. I’m feeling much better,” added the lock, who won his only Wales cap to date against Samoa in 2017.
“When I first came here, it was tough because I was coming in off the back of a long shoulder injury. There were a lot of things going on at Ospreys with different coaches and coming here on loan gave me a new opportunity.
“At the start I wasn’t really myself over the first season and half, but now I’m having game-time, getting some confidence back and I feel like I’m getting back to myself, like I was when I won my international cap and playing week in week out for Ospreys.
“By being a caller, a line-out leader or whatever term you want to put on it means it always puts you there around the leadership role.
“You link up with the 10s and the nines you’re always in the talks and you have to have confidence in being a leader on that front.
“It’s good. You look at Teddy, who had his first game last week, and it was great to see him coming on. His first action was getting a line-out steal.
“That was down to the preparations from us as forwards, getting our details right and knowing our roles.
“That’s the biggest thing for those younger boys coming in. A few more will have opportunities this season and it’ll be interesting to see.