Update
Well, it's the end of day two of the championship. Thought I'd give you an update.
The venue is incredible. It's the collection of rugby grounds we play our normal touch at during the season. But it's been transformed.
Temporary tent/gazebo things are up everywhere for all the different teams, each with the flags of their countries flying. So as you walk down to the Scotland squad's area you pass the flags of Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, United Arab Emerites, Jersey, Guernsey, Wales and England. There are also Irish and New Zealand Academy teams, and an invited side from London called the Colonials (bunch of Kiwis who live in London).
One of the sponsors is Highland Water, so there are pallets of free bottles of water at all the players' areas - 6500 bottles of water in all. Music playing, signs round the different fields etc.
Everywhere you look, you see squads warming up or warming down or mucking about. Some of the Belgian women have a habit of wearing their flag as a skirt, while the Germans have worked out a dance routine for the music played before each game and dance on the sideline when supporting each other's teams (note to Germans: those hotpants things you've got your women's teams wearing - it's appreciated in some cases but remember, lycra's a privilege, not a right).
It's amazing being part of the squad. All the teams make a real effort to go and support each other if they're not playing at the same time.
As for our team, we're doing pretty well.
On Friday we started off against Ireland, who are pretty new to touch and didn't have much of a clue. We won 16-0 and I scored five tries. In scoring the last one I side-stepped a guy to get through and felt a sharp pain in my right achilles tendon. Went and saw the physios afterwards and we thought it was just bruising.
Friday afternoon we played Wales over-35s. We won 7-3 and made hard work of it. The coach took me off during the second half as the tendon turned out to be worse than thought. I had gritted my teeth just to get through the warm-up and it became obvious to everyone that I was struggling.
I got to the ground early this morning to see the physios. To cut a long story short I tested out the achilles, and the physios ruled me out of today's games, saying I risked rupturing it if I played, which would mean surgery and several months rehab. Had a bit of a cry then told my coach that was me. From talking to people it sounds like a classic 'over-compensation' injury. Because I've been protecting my left ankle, I put too much strain on the right leg and hurt something there. Whilst it's gutting, one person pointed out that I've actually been quite lucky to get a warning on my achilles - often they just snap. Have to say that the pain has been pretty bad already, I'd hate to know what a rupture feels like.
We lost to Wales 5-3. We were actually the better team, but made a few silly mistakes and lost some composure.
France at midday. We won 10-1, and took them to pieces. Really nice clinical display and we looked like a good side. They were lazy in defence and we punished them for it.
Last game of the day was Scotland over-35s. As you can imagine, it was a bit of a grudge match as it was between two teams in the squad. We took them apart on the first half, I think it was 5-0 or 6-0 at halftime. Eventually won 10-1 or 11-1. Fell off a bit in the second half, basically the boys were running on empty at that stage.
We have Wales over-30s again tomorrow morning in our final. Should be interesting. I think we can win if we stick to the plans we've got for this game.
I've tried to do what I can in terms of doing analysis for the coach and captain from the sideline and do a bit of motivating. It's been an incredibly frustrating day on a personal level, but the team is doing well. And hey - yesterday I scored five tries in my international debut. It's pretty cool being able to say that.
All in all it's been a great experience and there's been some great moments. It's been great watching sides like our women's over-30s grow in confidence. And seeing the French women's team score a try this afternoon and it was their first try in the championship and they celebrated like crazy. The NZ Academy side is just fucking incredible - this championship is the cream of the European touch scene and these guys are taking everyone apart and they look like they're just mucking around. A funny if slightly mean moment happened today: one of the more arrogant members of the Scotland set-up was playing on the ground that the Sky TV cameras were on. He ran for a break-away try, thought he'd beaten the French defender and ran towards where the camera was and did a big show-off dive. Not only did the ref call him back because the French guy had actually touched him, but he hurt his hand in the process. A LOT of smirks on the sideline among the Scottish squad...
Oh, and Ireland beat France this afternoon. They are stoked - it's made the whole trip worthwhile for them. I had a chat to a few of them afterwards, they're chuffed. They said they turned up not knowing what to expect and got taken to pieces by us. Since then so many people from other squads have gone and given them little coaching sessions and other help, including the NZ coach taking them for a coaching session, and they're having a ball. Really nice guys too
Anyway, that's my essay. Hope you're all well. I've got be up at 7am, so see you later.
Ps: Zak, it's at Goldenacre if you fancy seeing any of the games tomorrow.
The venue is incredible. It's the collection of rugby grounds we play our normal touch at during the season. But it's been transformed.
Temporary tent/gazebo things are up everywhere for all the different teams, each with the flags of their countries flying. So as you walk down to the Scotland squad's area you pass the flags of Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, United Arab Emerites, Jersey, Guernsey, Wales and England. There are also Irish and New Zealand Academy teams, and an invited side from London called the Colonials (bunch of Kiwis who live in London).
One of the sponsors is Highland Water, so there are pallets of free bottles of water at all the players' areas - 6500 bottles of water in all. Music playing, signs round the different fields etc.
Everywhere you look, you see squads warming up or warming down or mucking about. Some of the Belgian women have a habit of wearing their flag as a skirt, while the Germans have worked out a dance routine for the music played before each game and dance on the sideline when supporting each other's teams (note to Germans: those hotpants things you've got your women's teams wearing - it's appreciated in some cases but remember, lycra's a privilege, not a right).
It's amazing being part of the squad. All the teams make a real effort to go and support each other if they're not playing at the same time.
As for our team, we're doing pretty well.
On Friday we started off against Ireland, who are pretty new to touch and didn't have much of a clue. We won 16-0 and I scored five tries. In scoring the last one I side-stepped a guy to get through and felt a sharp pain in my right achilles tendon. Went and saw the physios afterwards and we thought it was just bruising.
Friday afternoon we played Wales over-35s. We won 7-3 and made hard work of it. The coach took me off during the second half as the tendon turned out to be worse than thought. I had gritted my teeth just to get through the warm-up and it became obvious to everyone that I was struggling.
I got to the ground early this morning to see the physios. To cut a long story short I tested out the achilles, and the physios ruled me out of today's games, saying I risked rupturing it if I played, which would mean surgery and several months rehab. Had a bit of a cry then told my coach that was me. From talking to people it sounds like a classic 'over-compensation' injury. Because I've been protecting my left ankle, I put too much strain on the right leg and hurt something there. Whilst it's gutting, one person pointed out that I've actually been quite lucky to get a warning on my achilles - often they just snap. Have to say that the pain has been pretty bad already, I'd hate to know what a rupture feels like.
We lost to Wales 5-3. We were actually the better team, but made a few silly mistakes and lost some composure.
France at midday. We won 10-1, and took them to pieces. Really nice clinical display and we looked like a good side. They were lazy in defence and we punished them for it.
Last game of the day was Scotland over-35s. As you can imagine, it was a bit of a grudge match as it was between two teams in the squad. We took them apart on the first half, I think it was 5-0 or 6-0 at halftime. Eventually won 10-1 or 11-1. Fell off a bit in the second half, basically the boys were running on empty at that stage.
We have Wales over-30s again tomorrow morning in our final. Should be interesting. I think we can win if we stick to the plans we've got for this game.
I've tried to do what I can in terms of doing analysis for the coach and captain from the sideline and do a bit of motivating. It's been an incredibly frustrating day on a personal level, but the team is doing well. And hey - yesterday I scored five tries in my international debut. It's pretty cool being able to say that.
All in all it's been a great experience and there's been some great moments. It's been great watching sides like our women's over-30s grow in confidence. And seeing the French women's team score a try this afternoon and it was their first try in the championship and they celebrated like crazy. The NZ Academy side is just fucking incredible - this championship is the cream of the European touch scene and these guys are taking everyone apart and they look like they're just mucking around. A funny if slightly mean moment happened today: one of the more arrogant members of the Scotland set-up was playing on the ground that the Sky TV cameras were on. He ran for a break-away try, thought he'd beaten the French defender and ran towards where the camera was and did a big show-off dive. Not only did the ref call him back because the French guy had actually touched him, but he hurt his hand in the process. A LOT of smirks on the sideline among the Scottish squad...
Oh, and Ireland beat France this afternoon. They are stoked - it's made the whole trip worthwhile for them. I had a chat to a few of them afterwards, they're chuffed. They said they turned up not knowing what to expect and got taken to pieces by us. Since then so many people from other squads have gone and given them little coaching sessions and other help, including the NZ coach taking them for a coaching session, and they're having a ball. Really nice guys too
Anyway, that's my essay. Hope you're all well. I've got be up at 7am, so see you later.
Ps: Zak, it's at Goldenacre if you fancy seeing any of the games tomorrow.