But he has had some times to think, like when he was given his first All Black jersey.
"I took it back to my room and sat it down, had a good look at it.
"I saw the embroidery in it, which the public don't see, the black stitching with your name on it, a fern down the bottom of the jersey, and the team you play against.
"On the sleeve there is a date with the team you are playing against," he said.
"Then I had a ponder of where I have come from and what it had taken to wear that jersey.
"It was a proud moment and I had a think of what I had to do to do it justice."
He has kept the jersey - and an Irish jersey, the team he faced in his debut - and had it framed.
It now sits in his mother's house, near Ashburton.
"Obviously it was a very proud moment. A dream come true, since I was a little boy.
"But in saying that, reaching that level has given me a whole new set of goals."
Thomson (26) said he wanted to get a few more games in the black jersey, nail a regular starting spot and push a few of the senior players.
"I want to stamp my mark in the All Black jersey. I feel I've only got a taste of it and just need to keep working on my game.
"There is a whole lot of areas I have to work on."
Test rugby was a step up, against better players, and there was less time to make decisions, he said.
"Like the decision you make at ruck time, and other little things, which are not too hard to modify but can help you take your game to the next level."
Thomson, who has started three tests, but has come off the bench in the past two tests, said the team was elated with the win over South Africa, and to keep the Springboks scoreless was pretty special.
"We'd had a bit of a roller-coaster.
"Coming off the loss to Australia in Sydney a lot of the New Zealand media were putting the boot in, talking about selections and coaching and that sort of thing.
"So to beat Australia and then South Africa was pretty special. That is no easy feat. Not many teams have been able to do that.
"But in saying that we've still got one more big one in Brisbane to finish."
Thomson said he had studied the test against South Africa at Carisbrook and felt a couple of the penalties he conceded were marginal.
He wants to improve his decision making on the field, stay composed, and work on the little things, especially at the breakdown.
The only thing which surprised him about the All Blacks was how friendly everyone was.
"Going into the team like that, you think there may be egos and prima donnas, guys too big for the game.
"But it was nothing like that, at all.
"Everyone was down to earth, with open arms and just wanted to get the job done for the team and the country."
He said despite what the media might say, the whole of New Zealand still loved the All Blacks.
"That is what we talk about in midweek, playing for the people, the nation.
"You go to a light gym training and there are little kids wanting autographs.
"An open training session will probably get more people than an Otago game."
Thomson, who will start on the blindside flank against Hawkes Bay tomorrow night at Carisbrook, said he was looking forward to getting back into Otago colours and playing with his mates.
His contract with Otago was up at the end of season and he was in negotiations to extend that contract, and hoped to work something out.
But on the field issues remain the focus and will continue to be in the near future.
He will fly to New Plymouth on Sunday to prepare for the All Blacks test against Samoa next Wednesday before the Tri-Nations decider in Brisbane 10 days later.
"I love being part of the All Black environment and always aware you could be playing your last game.
"Every time you get it you've got to be proud of it and play your absolute best."
