Leigh Halfpenny could be excused if he felt in a hurry to make up for lost time on next month’s British and Irish Lions tour.
Wales star Halfpenny will arrive in Hong Kong, and then move on to Australia, as one of European rugby’s hottest properties.
The Cardiff Blues fullback was named Six Nations player of the tournament this season after performing starring roles throughout a campaign that ended with Wales landing a fourth title in nine years.
He was a model of consistency, both with his goalkicking and general play, and would unquestionably have been among the first names inked into a 37-man squad by Lions head coach Warren Gatland.
It will be 24-year-old Halfpenny’s second Lions tour, but he can only hope for better fortune than on the previous one in South Africa.
Selected for the 2009 mission to Springbok country, Halfpenny was allowed to join it late while he continued his recovery from a thigh problem.
But after one appearance – against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein – an injury recurrence ended his tour before it had barely started.
“It was hugely disappointing,” said Halfpenny, after reporting for Lions duty this week.
“I was part of a Lions squad and having the time of my life playing with a hugely-talented group, and I was gutted to be leaving.
“I was 20 years of age away with the Lions, and I would have stayed on that training pitch every hour of the day, but I learnt that I should listen to my body.
“I am a lot more experienced now, and I think the more chances I’ve had to play the more I’ve learnt and had time to work on areas I have wanted to be better at.
“For me, it is just about working hard every single day and making the most out of every time I step on the training pitch.
“What is hugely important as a Lions squad is to get things right off the pitch to make sure we are successful on the pitch. It is about getting to know each other and all coming together as one.”
If any of the Lions squad need reminding of how tough an opponent Australia will be, then Halfpenny can oblige, having lost four out of four against them during the past 11 months.
“Obviously, we were hugely disappointed to come away with a 3-0 series loss,” he said of Wales’ tour of Australia last year.
“There is probably frustration there, but we also have to take confidence from it.
“Now, it is about making sure we cross that finish line and being able to win the games.
“It is a very fast game down there, very intense. We found in the summer that the intensity is really high, and it just felt like it was end-to-end rugby.”
