Read article : Jonathan Joseph over the off-field issues he admits affected his Bath Rugby form
When Jonathan Joseph scored in the corner against Leicester Tigers at Twickenham in April, he ended what was a long and unexpected barren spell.
The Bath Rugby star was seemingly able to run in tries for fun while wearing the white of England, but he hadn't scored in the Premiership for a remarkable 23 months.
Ironically, the scores that started and ended that drought were both at Twickenham. HQ is a happy place for JJ.
In club colours, the 2016/17 season wasn't vintage Joseph and the British & Irish Lion agrees it was only rarely up to his lofty international standards.
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There's plenty more to life as an outside centre than tries, but the blanks he was drawing were symptomatic of something affecting JJ behind the scenes.
Looking ahead to the new season, Joseph has admitted for the first time that personal off-field issues affected his club form, but he is confident those private troubles are behind him and he's ready to show his quality once more.
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"I felt like there was more that could have come last season," he said. at Farleigh House.
"There were a few off-field things which I probably should have had better control over.
"At the time you don't feel it has a big impact on you, but it probably does down the line.
"That's a big one, but that's all sorted and I feel like I've got my head in a good space now and I'm just excited about the season ahead.
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"It's about making sure you've got the right balance on and off the field, and making sure you're giving yourself the best shot to perform.
"It's a new season, a clean slate and I'm ready to go. There's so much potential here and so much that can happen.
"We've come together pretty strong and the amount of work the boys have been putting in already is pretty remarkable."
Joseph has only been back in training a week and a half after a "really good" mental and physical break, including trips to Las Vegas and Thailand, where he taught rugby to children at an orphanage.
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The 26-year-old added: "I've found the older I get, the longer time I have off, the worse my body feels when I get back in.
"It's just been a case of getting that right. I think I'm pretty much there and looking forward to next week and hopefully get a run out up in Leicester."
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Leinster in Dublin on Friday night will come a little too soon but, as a Test match animal, director of rugby Todd Blackadder said he would have no qualms pitching Joseph straight in for the Premiership opener at Welford Road.
After rumours and uncertainty that Joseph hadn't made the cut, he was one of three Bath players, along with Taulupe Faletau and Anthony Watson, who toured New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions.
With player-of-the-tour Jonathan Davies hogging the number-13 shirt for all three Tests, Joseph was a regular in the mid-week teams.
Looking back, he added: "Collectively, for any team to be together for six weeks, go to New Zealand and draw a series is unbelievable.
"We'll always think we could have won it and they'll always think hey could have won it, but to gel as a team and build relationships in that time was something quite remarkable.
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"Individually, I was a little disappointed. I didn't feel like I was that far away but that's the way the game goes.
"Jonathan played well and he took his opportunity."
As one of Eddie Jones' regulars it will be another busy campaign for JJ, but with mind and body as one he is determined to get back to his old self.
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