Izack Rodda has credited Brad Thorn with helping him go from Super Rugby nobody to Wallabies starter in the space of just nine months.
The 21-year-old will make his run-on Test debut in Sunday's (AEST) Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks in Bloemfontein.
Meanwhile, reports say Thorn will soon be confirmed as the new coach of the Queensland Reds.
News Corp Australia reports the Queensland Rugby Union has decided to sack current boss Nick Stiles and give the job to former dual-code international Thorn, who is currently the team's contact coach, at the helm of NRC side Queensland Country and revered by players at Ballymore.
Notorious for crafting unforgiving gym programs and for driving the virtues of hardness and aggression, Rodda said Thorn's influence had been huge in his own development.
"They are very tough gym sessions, very long, but very beneficial at the same time," he said.
"I'm feeling a lot stronger from doing it.
"He's just a great influence, very helpful because he's one of the best to play the position.
"It's just great to sink in all the knowledge off him.
"He prides (himself on) physicality and especially as a second-rower - he believes and I believe as well - you've got to be real physical and dominant in your position and just make your presence around the field."
Rodda made an immediate impact in his debut off the bench in the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Dunedin - something he never would have dreamed of happening at the start of the year, given he hadn't played a minute of Super Rugby until the opening round.
Along with Reds teammate Lukhan Tui, he is now recognised as one of the country's best young locks.
"(It's been a) massive surprise since the first round," he said.
"I wasn't even expecting to get my debut against the Sharks in round one and it all just sort of went from there.
"I've just been so stoked about how I've been going and just loving every minute of it, loving getting better as a player each week."
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