Today we have extracts from Sunday and Monday as GB step up their preparations to take on the Kiwis this weekend.
Throughout the Tri Nations, Keith Senior will be keeping us all up to date with how the Lions camp are doing. Today we have extracts from Sunday and Monday as GB step up their preparations to take on the Kiwis this weekend. Also included are photos taken by Keith on the camera kindly supplied by Olympus UK Ltd. Danny McGuire and Gareth Ellis are enjoying a game of pool in the teams gamesroom at their Manly hotel before Stuart Fielden and Jamie Peacock charge their way through a plate full of steak but Rob Burrow eyes seem to be bigger than his stomach once his food arrives!
Sunday Woke about 8 am. For the first time since I have been here I had a good nights sleep. Went down for breakfast and thought we had a team day out, think it was supposed to be a boat trip, but that had been cancelled for a training session because the coaches think we needed to get the ball in our hands to get some extra training before the Kiwi test. Left for training at 10 and it ended up being a bit off a touch up but felt good even though we only played 2 days ago. Back to the hotel for lunch then we had the afternoon free but because we are have to meet later to go for dinner there isn't time to really do anything. Went into town for a bit of a walk with Gaz, Danny and Rob, had a look round some shops, went for a coffee, then a walk on the beach as the sun had come out now. Got back to the hotel about 3.30 then went into the games room for a couple of games of pool before going to my room to watch a bit of tv and relax. We all meet in reception to go to Ribs and Rumps for a steak, it is one of the best places to go to eat in Manly and highly recommended if you're ever over this way, then walk back to the hotel and get an early night for training tomorrow.
Monday Day started with the alarm at 7.45 to go down for breakfast, got a usual big feed of just about everything going, that is the best thing about stopping at a hotel the food is as much as you can eat. Left for training at 9 o'clock so have to be in reception 15 minutes early just one of the many rules we have to abide by. Training today is at Narabeen where the Manly Sea Eagles train, the facilities are excellent and its red hot today. Training starts about 9.45 with a warm up from our conditioner Carl Jennings, then we get into ball work for about 40 minutes then finish off with some attacking sets and exit sets, feels like we have trained for hours and everyone is feeling a bit drained by the end. We break off for a little rest to refuel and get fluids on board before we go in the gym to do weights which lasts about an hour. After training we have lunch at the training ground before coming back to the hotel where most of the squad go on the beach to play volleyball and go for a swim in the sea. After being on the beach Danny, Rob Gaz, JP and myself and a new recruit Andy Coley go for a bite to eat and a coffee into town before going back to the hotel to rest before dinner.