RUARIDH McConnochie is content to keep re-learning is trade at Bath as he looks to make a swift transition back to the 15-man code.
McConnochie joined Bath ahead of the new Premiership season, having previously been a Sevens specialist, including being part of the Great Britain squad that won Olympic silver in Rio two years ago.
The 26-year-old has already made a bit of an impact, with a try in each of the first two matches played by the club’s second team – Bath United – this season.
McConnochie is happy to wait for any first-team opportunities in Todd Blackadder’s side, though, after admitting he is slowly getting to grips with the game again.
“I am just putting my head down, and this year in terms of expectations, I am happy with where I am at the moment,” said McConnochie.
“I am still on a massive learning curve, just trying to get my head around 15s again. Hopefully I can put some more good performances in for the Untied side and see what happens from there.
“In the first game, I was a bit like a rabbit in headlights. I can’t really remember much of it as it was all coming back to me after three and a half years out of the game.
“But it has been really good. It has been interesting to see what little things that I wouldn’t have thought about beforehand, have come up during a game.
“You can do so much in terms of analysis stuff and what you should do, but actually getting back playing is the best way to pick up these new moves and new plays.
“It is much different to what I remember. The main thing is that there are so many more men on the pitch and there are less gaps.
“The playbook is 10 times bigger, so the first few weeks there was so much information and it was about getting over that and trying to stop being 10 seconds behind everyone else when the calls are made.
“In the last few weeks it has come a bit quicker and more naturally, and hopefully it can keep getting easier.”
Bath travel to Harlequins on Saturday hunting their first Premiership win of the season, having battled back for a 31-31 draw at home to West Country rivals Gloucester at home last weekend.
The hosts recovered from 21-0 down to lead by seven points in the closing stages, but a late converted try from former Bath winger Matt Banahan denied his old club.
McConnochie said: “Although it was a bit of a stuffing in the first half, at the end of the half we responded brilliantly, and from there it was a great comeback.
“We came back from 21-0 down and put in a seriously good performance, so those fine details and can easily be worked on and taken it into Harlequins.”
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