He’s won a World Cup, Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations glory with the All Blacks but now Adam Thomson is in Melbourne, looking to help transform the Rebels from a side full of promise to Super Rugby contenders.

Something, the 33-year old former Queensland Reds flanker thinks will be a reality sooner rather than later.

“It’s been a change of scene obviously, but it’s a really good group of guys in Melbourne with a strong culture and good direction so it’s great to be a part of it,” Thomson told Rugby News.

“There are a lot of young guys here and no out and out superstars, but what they do have is a clear direction in where they want to go. They are a hard working group so it has been great to come and join in and go along with them.”

Thomson played 29 Tests for the All Blacks and 68 Super Rugby matches for the Highlanders over seven years, before joining Japanese club Canon Eagles in 2013. After two seasons in the Top League, Thomson returned to Super Rugby and joined the Queensland Reds in 2015, before heading south to link with the Rebels ahead of the 2016 season.

“The thing that has really stood out for me is being in a town where Rugby isn’t the main sport. It’s a huge AFL town and Rugby slips under the radar some times so that has taken some getting used to,” Thomson adds.

“But I think that is what makes the group so tight, most the guys aren’t from Melbourne, so that family culture is really strong because everyone is together so much and working for the same goal.”

Admitting he knows next to nothing about AFL, Thomson said he was still getting his bearings in Melbourne, but was enjoying his time with the young Rebels squad, particularly his fellow backrowers led by 21-year old Wallaby Sean McMahon.

“Before I even played with him, I’d seen him as a young fella and he really impressed me with the impact he had. He has a great physical presence around the park and really dominates so for a guy that age, it’s pretty special.”

“Then you’ve got Jordy Reid, Scotty (Fuglistaller) and Colby Fainga’a, so there is a lot of depth in that back row and anyone of those guys can step in and do a really good job.

With an average age of just 23, the Rebels won seven matches in 2015 and finished the regular season in 10th position. But as the likes of McMahon, Debrezceni, Stirzaker and Placid continue to mature, many believe the Rebels are one of the teams to watch this season.

“I think the key is consistency. If you look at the Rebels last year, they knocked off some of the top teams in the comp and then let matches slip that they should have won,” Thomson said.

“For a team to get all the way to the finals you need to win those close games, beat the teams that you should beat and then try and knock off a few of the better sides.

On the back of victories over the Force and the Reds, the Rebels sit in seventh spot after three rounds and will be looking to continue the momentum when they travel to play the Sunwolves this weekend.

“I generally do think we’re good enough to make the playoffs. There is enough talent and enough drive and culture within the team which are two factors that probably go unnoticed when you look at a team on paper.

“We need that consistency to win the close matches and that starts tonight. If we can do that and can put ourselves in a position to get to the finals then from there, anything can happen.”