No longer the wide-eyed kid on debut, Nathan Lawson is ready to make an impact at the Paris Olympics.
Lawson is one of several returning stars from Tokyo as they enter the Olympic Village with the podium on their minds.
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The 25-year-old comes into this campaign with significantly more experience and preparation, called into the Tokyo squad just days before the event for his Australian debut after an injury to Henry Paterson.
Lawson had only played for the Oceania Barbarians previously in a pre-Olympic tournament before being exposed to the international level on the highest stage.
“I think just having the build-up in preparation for a couple of years leading into this has been beneficial to me," he told Rugby.com.au on the difference from last Olympics.
“It’s pretty nerve-wracking, waiting for the call but to be now able to put in all the hard work and to be ready to go out and perform on the biggest stage, I’m excited.
“…Having no crowds in Tokyo was a huge disappointing part of it but being able to go there in Paris, we know it’s sold out for most of the days and it’s going to be unreal.”
Now, Lawson is one of the best finishers in World Rugby and a seasoned world series veteran with close to 70 tries on the circuit.
“I think my job’s very easy by the boys inside me. We’ve got such a special team and I’m just sitting on the edge and finishing the tries,” he said and smiles
“Having a year like the last two under my belt is huge because it just feels second nature now whereas I felt like a young little boy in Tokyo.
“It’s come a long way.”
Lawson admits the pain of Tokyo still drives the squad as one of the seven players who survived a massive cull of full-time Sevens talent after their seventh place finish.
“It was pretty dull times after the last Olympics," Lawson added. “Leading into these Olympics, we want to make Australia proud and we know we can do it.
"It’s all about putting everything together and we’ve got the firepower and the boys to do it.”
