Taking nothing for granted

There are those who think we share a lifestyle with soccer players but like all misconceptions it doesn't hold up, writes BOB CASEY

THE MANNER of our victory in Brive constituted a pleasant surprise. We’d steeled ourselves for the fire and brimstone but from the opening whistle virtually, we took control. It is hugely pleasing to have achieved the victory and brought home a bonus point but we won’t be taking anything for granted at the Madejski Stadium next weekend. It sounds a cliche but history is littered with sad tales of teams who suffered for an attitude like that.

The Brive management was so upset with the performance that the players were handed an alcohol ban on Saturday night and had to suffer the delights of hill runs yesterday morning. The word is that Brive will travel with their strongest side including English players like Jamie Noon and Steve Thompson for the game in London.

The only time they demonstrated serious physicality was in the final 15 minutes of the match when they went through a repertoire of dirty blows. Hair was pulled, players were punched as they sought a form of redress that was beyond them on the scoreboard or in general play. It was real cheap shot stuff.

Quite apart from the win it was heartening to see the numbers – about 750 – that went to support us in France. They certainly made a tremendous noise and would have really enjoyed the day or two in Brive.

The so-called glamour of travelling reminded me of a recent conversation with a friend in relation to the daily regimen of a professional rugby player. There are those who think we share a lifestyle with soccer players: do a bit of training in the morning and have the afternoon off to buy another Bentley. Like all misconceptions it doesn’t quite hold up to closer scrutiny.

Taking a Saturday game as an example and a starting point to provide an insight into a week of the life of a professional rugby player, I would finish a match and head straight for an ice bath, shower and then it’s off to a corporate box to fulfil those responsibilities. The latter is important from an interactive perspective just as it is in terms of spending some time with supporters, either chatting or signing autographs or memorabilia.

On the Sunday, the players would come in, have another ice bath, work on the exercise bikes, go for a massage and then report to the medical team so that they can evaluate bumps and bruises. Those knocks have a direct impact on training for both the team and the individuals that week. I did mention a massage, of which we’d have three during the week, but I’d like to stress this one doesn’t involve scented candles and whale music.

It is deep seated, elbow driven, usually painful and inflicted by a girl call Sarah who seems to take a vicarious pleasure in bringing grown men to the verge of tears: I think she’s evil but it’s probably fairer to say, she does a brilliant job.

On Monday we have a gym session and in keeping with the week, there would be various meetings and analysis sessions. These are short and to the point, obviously structured on the basis that most rugby players have a very short attention span.

It’s the same with the first pitch session of the week, which lasts about 75 minutes rather than the two hours of a previous incarnation.

We’d eat twice during the day in the club for a stipend of about £7. It allows Allan Ryan to keep on eye on what the players are munching on and stops us heading off for a massive sandwich and a sneaky muffin in the local delicatessen. Losing at the weekend takes its toll and it’s usually pretty obvious on the Monday.

We’d all try to be positive and professional but human nature guarantees a certain disappointment when you lose and that legacy occasionally seeps into the middle of the week. As captain it is part of my responsibility along with the senior players to try and ensure it doesn’t linger.

Tuesday begins with a fat burner on the exercise bike at home. The curtains are closed. No civilian should have to see a man of my frame red faced and sweaty on a stationary machine. It’s particularly hectic day because we have two rugby sessions.

The coaches know that we have the following day off so they work us hard.

In the morning there are full-on lineout and scrum sessions, followed by a meal and then in the afternoon there is a second rugby work-out with the added “bonus” of a conditioning session at the end. People might think that we only do conditioning work in pre-season but that’s a misnomer; trust me. It’s also media day and as captain I’d have pretty extensive duties so I’d end up hanging around for an hour or two.

There are always more journalists around in the week of a Heineken Cup match or a local derby in the Guinness Premiership. You might have to take the odd phone call when you get home. Wednesday is our day off so in my case it might lead to a game of golf that masquerades as a lesson or a bit of lunch and a movie with a few of the lads. It’s important to be able to switch off.

We do lineouts, a gym session, another pitch sessions and ice baths on the Thursday and then on the Friday before a Saturday game it’s just the captain’s run. The forwards do three scrums and three lineouts that we are going to use, at a jog.

There are plenty of moments to lighten the week. We have a joke of the day before a team meeting where a player must entertain his colleagues or face their wrath. A few comedic cameos – slips, trips, dropping ball etc – can be dropped into video analysis from time to time. One of the most recent involved Steffon Armitage who was interviewed by television after winning a man-of-the-match award.

Now when Steffon is faced with a question he considers tricky, he elects to scratch his head and wait for the ensuing silence to be filled with another question. This time the interviewer didn’t back down and the lads were rolling round the place watching Steffon scratch himself as if he had nits.

The same player is the only forward who takes part in a weekly place-kicking competition – there are normally 10 or so participants – the remainder backs. Steffon fancies himself with the boot.

The player that finishes last has to buy the coffees for everyone else and the last couple of weeks, that person has been Ryan Lamb, the team’s place-kicker: enough said.