We’ll fight for every minute warn Bristol
DEFENCE guru Jonathan Thomas says a huge appetite for battle will ensure Bristol take this season’s Premiership by storm.
Back in the top-flight for the first time since 2009, the Ashton Gate outfit are being tipped for a season of intense struggle. But Thomas, who joined the coaching team in June, believes the bookmakers are mistakenly writing them off.
Former Wales, Ospreys and Worcester back rower Thomas told The Rugby Paper: “We’re favourites to be relegated but we’re here to prove people wrong.
“We know we’re in a world-class league and for us to succeed we have got to get the best out of each other. We need to be ‘one team’ of coaches and players who sing from the same sheet and fight for every minute of every game.
“But you look at other sports and see how Leicester City last season won the Premier League and then how Connacht won the Pro12 – two teams you’d never have thought could do that – you see they fought for every single point.
“You need that huge appetite for the battle because otherwise you get brushed aside, so success for us will be getting the best out of the whole group and if we do that I’m convinced we can surprise a few people along the way.”
Twelve months ago, Thomas, right, was left reeling after being told his playing career was over after he was diagnosed with epilepsy – a condition hastened by repeated blows to the head during a 14-year career in which he won 67 caps.
Thomas, 33, explained: “I wasn’t expecting to retire and when I got told I had to finish by the neurologist it came as a shock.
“Initially, I took time out to reflect on which way I wanted to go, but the good thing was it gave me an appreciation of how much I missed the game. I enjoy being in the rugby environment, had always felt I wanted to go into coaching and it’s been great to be back involved. “Health-wise, I’m in a really good place now and I was delighted to accept the opportunity with Bristol when it came up. “It’s an exciting time for the club with the journey they’re on and it’s a huge club, in a great city that deserves Premiership rugby.” Thomas’s reputation as an unyielding, worldclass defender was honed under the tutelage of renowned coaches Lyn Jones, Steve Hansen, Clive Griffiths and Shaun Edwards, but he is determined to do things his own way.
“I was fortunate to work under so many good coaches over the years, but it’s important to come up with my own philosophy,” Thomas said.
“You can only learn off world-class coaches like Lyn, Steve, Griff and Shaun, and someone like Shaun lives and breathes defence. But, ultimately, you can’t be an imitation of something else, you’ve got to bring your own ideas to the game.
“Defence is mental as much as anything, but I’ll look to bring clarity to what Bristol are doing and the rest is about our hunger to work.”
While Thomas believes Bristol can do more than just survive, he would take equal pleasure from helping to revive the career of former Ospreys prop Ryan Bevington, 27, who has joined the club after two years of injury hell.
Thomas added: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for Ryan and I played with him at the Ospreys and know what a quality player he is.
“He’s got unbelievable athletic qualities as a prop and it’s been frustrating that his career has stalled a bit. But he can aspire to play for Wales again and he has the potential to be their No.1 loosehead.
“It’s a great signing for Bristol and if he works hard he’ll be knocking on that door.”