Day Five: 1st XV Sanix World Cup Campaign
Tough night, at Te Ate cuts down a small forest with his snoring. As if Ben Finau doesn’t talk enough during the day - he also sleep-talks for most of the night. Got up at 7.00 and tried to clean up the dorm. Unfortunately, tidiness is not a high priority for Joey, Victor and Jackson, so pretty much a waste of time. Breakfast at 7.50am and then individual work-ons until team meeting at 10.10.
We have to bring a pen and the coaches surprise us with a quick spelling, maths and geography test. I’ve never heard of ‘fastidious’ (thank goodness for spellcheck) let alone know how to spell it, and short division was never my strength. We then have to document our pre-match routine. The Doc’s in for his injury checks and Victor and Andrew come back from having x-rays smiling - nothing broken. Showers, strapping, rubs, food and gear up. There is a walk across to the stadium and we’re into the warm-up. I’ve been told by the coaches that I have to be more aggressive and increase my work-rate, so I’m full on. I’ve got to prove that I have what it takes to start.
Back in the shed, jerseys on and last words on the game against Myoshi HS (last game in pool play). Out of the tunnel and into our traditional haka.
There’s an early try to winger Luke Masirewa which set the tone for the match. 2nd 5 Hohepa Gibb and fullback Ryan Kelleher both scored from fine individual runs, before Luke added another on the end of a slick backline move. The halftime score is 24-7. The scoring continues into the 2nd half with tries to lock Brodie McCurran, blindside Te Ate Walker, another to Ryan and two more to Luke. 1st 5 Josh O’Flaherty added four conversions. The final score is 58-7. Captain Alex Suttie left the field with a hamstring injury, which is a big worry to the team. Chris Lolohea had a busy game and was named ‘Grassroots’ forward of the day, while Ryan Kelleher has been a big improver and was named ‘Lodge Real Estate’ back of the day.
After the game we sing and ice down in the shed. Tama takes the LMCs, reserves and filthies (players who didn’t strip), to the gym for a workout. The LMCs have actually had a name change because they’ve been working so hard. They also monitor each others eating and their weights are recorded on the whiteboard in our meeting room. They’ve been re-named the Inspirational Group or IGs for short. Also on the board is a ‘news from home’ section. On it is the result of the 2nd XV v St Pauls match (we’re proud of you fullas), some Hamilton senior game results and that Putaruru Seniors had thrashed Tokoroa. Mr Hotham and Hohepa give the Tok boys (Regs, Vic and Brodie) heaps.
Dinner at 6.20pm and then team meeting and we do video analysis of today’s game. After thinking I went alright, the video shows up a few concerns in my game. We’re informed we have Saga HS in our quarter final. The other side of the draw is tough, with Paarl from Sth Africa up against Fukuoka. Ivybridge from England are in great form and everyone’s talking about them being finalists. They’re a big team with three backs over 100kgs and two of them in their national squad.
The meeting finishes with tomorrow’s team named and I’m not starting. All good…I hope to get on and improve on today’s performance. The meeting finishes with Mrs Clark reading e-mails. We’re all rapt to get one from Kane, who we hear played a blinder against St Pauls. Five left in the Lonely Hearts Club: four boys and Tama. We gather our washing that Barb and Hamish have done for us and we’re off to bed. Outside our dorm the Japanese players have assembled to try and swap some gear with us. Kereti is a mean swapper and picked up some skins, shorts and tee-shirts for a normal school jersey.
Into bed and I try some visualization…Oh no: Te Ate’s snoring again. Pillow over my head, I drift off to sleep.
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