The former Bath flanker seriously considered chucking the game away after being shown the door by the Scarlets who discarded him while he was recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
But a year later, the 22-times capped back row is a rejuvenated man after starring for Newport Gwent Dragons in an eventful season at Rodney Parade.
His three year exile from international rugby will come to an abrupt end when he goes head to head with Richie McCaw, the undisputed king of the breakdown.
“I’m looking forward to this game more than I have any others,” says Thomas. “I didn’t think it would happen. This is a performance I need to get right,” said the 32-year-old.
“I’ve got to give it my all no matter who is playing. There are plenty of other players on the pitch and it’s not just me against him {McCaw]. But I know I have to give the performance of a lifetime
Thomas is relishing his battle against the All Blacks talisman and has enjoyed playing under the new tackle laws.
“I like them. You can’t go to the floor with people and hold on at the same time. You need to release and there’s a bit more counter-rucking and those sorts of things and that seems to have helped me,” he added.
But he warned: “You can give more penalties away, that’s for sure. You’ve got to be careful. I’m doing all right with it but we’ll see on Saturday.”
Thomas has put his controversial departure from the Scarlets firmly behind him now as he aims to put down a marker and return to New Zealand next year with Warren Gatland’s World Cup squad.
“This is definitely a big shot for me to be around next year, definitely,” Thomas said.
Thomas paid tribute to the Newport Gwent Dragons for helping him achieve his ambition of getting in Warren Gatland’s Wales XV.
He said: ”They have given me a lot of leeway because I have been injured but they have really helped me through my rugby.”
Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Tom Prydie (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Paul James (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Gavin Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, captain).
Reserves: Huw Bennett (Ospreys), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Deiniol Jones (Cardiff Blues), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets).
