Wallabies speedster Lachie Turner has emerged from a dark time individually and with the Waratahs to force his way back into the international rugby reckoning.
The 15-Test winger was sidelined for all but the last two rounds of the Super season after tearing his hamstring off the bone in a pre-season hitout.
Turner’s prospects of a Test recall in the coming Rugby Championship improved after being named on Monday in the first 27-man Wallabies training squad for that tournament, which starts next month.
“Given the options of being told you are out for the season and you may not ever get back, it’s extremely satisfying to make it here,” Turner said.
He reiterated the doctors had told him he was a 90 per cent chance of getting back to between 98 and 100 per cent of his top speed.
Turner was was candid about his current state of match fitness.
“Personally I think I’ve got a long way to go, I certainly feel my game can grow a little bit more,” Turner said.
“I’m certainly stronger than I was prior to the injury now and its just a matter of getting those little things and explosiveness back and the pace.”
Turner could do nothing to help NSW till the latter stages of a season that gleaned only four wins from 16 games
“Psychologically it was tough, this is the first extended period for me on the sidelines,” Turner said.
“It was a very frustrating year for everyone involved at the Tahs.
“We were close in a lot of ways and we were a long way off in a lot of other ways, so it was frustrating and I certainly had some dark times.”
Despite their miserable season, NSW suppled almost half of the train-on squad.
Uncapped prop Paddy Ryan was one of 13 Waratahs chosen for the July 24-26 camp in Sydney.
A specialist tighthead prop, Ryan was a regular reserve for NSW until an injury to Wallaby Sekope Kepu enabled him to start the Tahs last two games.
He praised NSW coach and former Wallaby hooker Michael Foley for his scrummaging work.
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