Inside the Lions’ Den

  • Lost for words after missed opportunity

    June 29, 2009 @ 2:30 pm | by Tommy

    I’m a little lost on what to say.  The series is now over which is quite hard to come to terms with.  Having been in front the whole game and to lose it in a last minute kick is probably the worst feeling I have ever experienced. Walking off the pitch and into the changing room was very tough having been so close to winning the Test.  The changing room after the game was like a morgue, no-one spoke for almost half an hour.

    Unfortunately we all really felt there was something special within this team, we have bonded, as I have said throughout this tour, so well and to have won every game in the build up I really thought I was going to be part of something that would go down in history.  To be brought back to reality now having lost the series is a very tough pill to swallow. (more…)

  • Sleepless nights? Definitely when your bed is stolen

    June 25, 2009 @ 5:38 pm | by Tommy

    I walked into my room today to find both Crofty’s and my bed missing.  The sheets were perfectly folded on the ground, but mattresses and beds gone.  I love when this starts because it’s time now to think how we’re going to get revenge.  At the minute there are a few suspects who are out to get us but I can’t reveal anything at the moment. 

    Any good ideas to get revenge will be greatly appreciated, but we need something pretty extreme to make sure people will not pick on us again! (more…)

  • Harry aside, we’re quite a learned bunch

    June 23, 2009 @ 3:30 pm | by Tommy

    Due to the numerous knocks us rugby players take to the head people assume we are a little bit slow - or some may even suggest stupid! 

    This squad in particular, however, may debunk that theory and prove that us rugby players at not quite as slow as many think. (more…)

  • Determined to right the wrong

    June 21, 2009 @ 6:37 pm | by Tommy

    There were a lot of disappointed faces at breakfast this morning with the realisation that we came so close and in not winning let ourselves and the supporters down.  It was a very difficult match and we made things even more difficult by giving them such a comfortable head start, leaving us with a mountain to climb. (more…)

  • Not easy translating the frog word as water boy

    June 17, 2009 @ 9:06 am | by Tommy

    I heard the funniest joke on Monday…Donncha O’Callaghan was going to be captain of the British and Irish Lions. Ha! Ha! 

    Turned out this wasn’t a joke after all.  No, fair play to him.  Donncha is the ultimate when it comes to professionalism and a great player but is also great fun to be around when off the rugby pitch.  I was delighted for him.

    We are now in test week and the excitement is really starting to kick in. For players there will always be excitement before a test match but unlike the thousands of supporters starting to arrive we are here to do a job.  Therefore the concentration, intensity and homework we do before the match will be more than for any other game.  (more…)

  • Sharks go hungry as Lions get stuck in

    June 15, 2009 @ 12:48 pm | by Tommy

    The Western Province match was always going to be difficult but we definitely made it hard work for ourselves.  James Hook showed real character and balls to step up and nail that kick at the end, I can only admire players that have the nerve to do that.  I wouldn’t like to think what must go through their heads. 

    Personally, I didn’t really enjoy the match as it was very stop-start but was happy getting over the line and helping out in Ugo’s try. (more…)

  • Retro supporters cover the hard miles

    June 12, 2009 @ 10:37 am | by Tommy

    A very convincing win for the boys yesterday (Wednesday).  The Sharks are one of top provincial sides in South Africa.  Even if they were missing a few players we looked to be getting stronger and stronger as the game went on and by the end the Sharks didn’t know where to go.

    The coaches and players were very happy with the end result and it sets us up nicely for a big match against the Stormers in Cape Town this Saturday.  The non 22 from yesterday’s match trained this morning in preparation for the Stormers game.  We fly to Cape Town this evening (Thursday). (more…)

  • Squad mourns loss of wounded Lions … and ROG

    June 10, 2009 @ 11:15 pm | by Tommy

    The squad was dealt a terrible blow yesterday as we found out that Leigh Halfpenny and Stephen Ferris were heading home.  Leigh could not hold in his emotions at training when he realised his leg was not getting better. For him to join the squad late thinking his leg was better again and then to find out it’s not must be so difficult for him.

    Typical Stephen on the other hand has sat in the team room and put a brave face on, trying his best to be positive, but I can only imagine what must be going on in his head.  He has been outstanding on this trip so far and in my opinion was a shoo-in for a Test place. (more…)

  • Tommy not for swimming with the Sharks

    June 9, 2009 @ 10:27 am | by Tommy

    Since arriving in Durban, I have never seen someone so depressed as poor Donncha (O’Callaghan).  It has been all clouds and rain and his tan - that was going, “O so well” - has taken a step in the wrong direction.  Paulie on the other hand, who always has an inch of sun-cream on his face, has now become the happiest man on tour!

    After the tough match on Saturday we were given Sunday off.  Thank God for Lee Mears on this tour as Joe Worsley, Simon Shaw, Mears and I are on the entertainment committee.  If it wasn’t for Lee we would be the grumpiest and
    least entertained group of guys ever.  He has organised everything from dining out, cinema trips, golf days and now a day at U-Skaka, the massive aquarium in Durban.  (more…)

  • Luke goes for a swim, I go for a steak

    June 7, 2009 @ 4:44 pm | by Tommy

    The team announcement for the match this weekend was held in our hotel on Friday.

    I’m starting to see the popularity of this series more and more as the amount of journalists, television crews and photographers grows.

    Myself and a few of the guys not in the team were able to watch the chaos from poolside.  One of the funniest moments I have seen on tour was when Jamie Roberts (my new roommate) pushed Luke Fitzgearld mid pose into the swimming pool. (more…)

  • A nice lie on as Lions start to hit their stride

    June 4, 2009 @ 5:55 pm | by Tommy

    That’s more like it!

    I was able to sleep well last night. Big smiles on everyone’s faces at breakfast, well I presume they all did, I had a good sleep on and missed it. Got down in time for quick bowl of cereal then off to the pool for a recovery session. It was a great game to be part of last night and even though I was a little tired from Saturday I really enjoyed it. (more…)

  • Donncha’s tan coming on a treat

    June 2, 2009 @ 6:06 pm | by Tommy

    After the tough opening match at the weekend, it’s a pretty quick turnaround before Wednesday’s game. Only Jamie Roberts, David Wallace and I are playing again as there are a few niggles with some of the boys. It looks like the backs are the guys nursing a few knocks this week after Andy Powell and Stephen ‘Bueller’ Ferris had to pull out with small knocks last weekend.

    On Sunday the entire Lions squad was invited to play one of Johannesburg’s best golf courses designed by Gary Player. But after Saturday’s match a lot of the guys had to pull out so I didn’t get to show off my golfing skills that I’ve been practicing on Tiger Woods on the Xbox. (more…)

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