Nio's Churchill Cup Diary

Churchill Cup London UK 2011

Arrived safe and sound although under the Tongan rugby budget, 22 hours in economy has left everyone a little stiff, sore and tired. On a better note the English weather has been very kind as it's 22 degrees outside and not a cloud in sight, not sure I have ever seen so many sunburnt poms before! Makes me think of Coogee beach at Xmas time.

All the players assemble in the team room of our hotel and with players from Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, France and England first priority is getting acquainted with each other. With introductions over we are straight into our work as the USA is only 4 days away. Finally, after 90 minutes of heads in the books, it's dinner time and this is a sight to behold. 28 Tongan rugby players at meal time is something similar to feeding time at the zoo and I am not sure the lovely staff at the Holiday Inn, London Shepperton were prepared for this. After about a third of the "animals" were through, the food was all but gone.  I think a few calls were made to Oxfam and a special food drop was helicoptered in to ease the situation and again we were on our way to Churchill Cup glory. It feels like I have been awake for a week so my pillow is a welcome sight as I drift off.

Day 2 and 3 are a bit of a blur as jet lag takes control and I start to crash out during the afternoon. We manage 2 training sessions each day and I must admit I am surprised with the level at training. We are extremely lucky to have players from top 14 in France, the top league in Japan and the Premiership in England. Their attitude and attention to detail quickly rubs off on the rest of us and training has gone by very well. Now it's time for relax with only 48 hours till we beat up the yanks.

We head off to a welcome BBQ from the Weybridge Vandals as we are using their facilities to prepare. They have obviously done some research on Tongan cuisine and we are welcomed with a massive pig on a rotating spit. With another demolition job completed on a truck load of food it's back to the hotel for the team announcement and haka practise. I didn't fair so well in either, being named on the bench for the game against the USA and struggling with the Sipi Tau (the Tongan version of the Haka). I quickly enlist in the crash course lessons to get up to scratch. Big congrats goes out to former wicks player Will Helu selected on the wing. With me on the bench it's still 3 Easts beasts and 2 wicks players we need to fix that. Lotu? You listening?

Game day is here and with the Captain's Run going smoothly yesterday there is a confident air about the team. Our captain and coach remind us of a few comments made by the American staff in case we need any further motivation. I am not sure we did but hopefully their typical American arrogance will come back to haunt them. The pre-match speech from our captain is one of the most inspiring I have heard and there is a real buzz in the room.

At half time it is a close affair; we have let them into the game a little more than we would like and our physical dominance is not converted to as bigger lead as deserved. Half time score is 13-10. The feeling is still very upbeat however and everyone is confident that if we can control the ball then we will finish the victors. The second half goes much more to plan and in the final 20 minutes we really run away with it, to end up 44-13 winners. Young winger Viliami Iongi stars with 4 of our 5 tries. Don't worry Morro, I have been in his ear and I am confident he would look good in myrtle green. It is not such a strong game on a personal note but the 3 minutes I did get to play were of the highest standard...

We are off to our next stop tomorrow in preparation for the big game of our trip and the England A Saxons.

Till then 'Ofa atu

Nio

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