There’s nothing like getting away from it all to relieve the burden of one’s troubles.
The Wallabies get to do that from today when they jet out of Sydney for a five-week odyssey that will take in the best outfits that the Northern Hemisphere has to offer.
When the year’s schedule was first released – complete with two extra ‘money’ games on the tour itinerary – the players could have been forgiven for shaking their heads.
With a Rugby World Cup just around the corner, an overload of high intensity and high impact matches hardly seemed like best practice, as far as preparation for that tournament was concerned.
Outside of lining the ARU with (admittedly much needed) cash, how was playing yet another meaningless game against the Barbarians going to help with the World Cup? Or an extra Test, at the end of a very long year, against one of our major World Cup threats, England?
With a new coach, and dare I say it, a new start; that’s all changed.
All bets are off, no places can be assumed, and those who are flying out tonight know that they are getting the first opportunity to impress the new man in charge.
Venue-wise, it’s not the worst trip either.
It doesn’t matter how many times you play at Twickenham – which the Wallabies will do twice on this trip – the atmosphere and grandeur of the place ensures that every visit to London’s Southwest is one that is looked forward to.
The stadium itself is very modern. Because it is used almost exclusively for rugby, the playing surface is always pristine, unlike venues such as Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, the Sydney Football Stadium and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, where the over-use invariably leaves the pitch in poor condition.
You can’t escape the English traditions though. As you drive in on the team bus, you can see the cream of the aristocracy out in the car park sipping their champagne next to their ‘Rollers’, and munching on their canapés and ham sandwiches in readiness for the big match.
(No, I’ve never been invited, I only know what they are doing because I asked one of the English guys!)
Then there’s the visitors’ dressing room, which once had outside of it, on the wall, individual plaques dedicated to England’s ‘Greatest Twickenham Test victories’. For that read, any wins over the All Blacks, ourselves or the Springboks, with the odd French Test thrown in to boost the numbers!
Seeing those never hurt with the motivation!
One of the other traditions of a Twickenham Test is the post-game dinner, which allows the “Old farts”, as ex-England captain Will Carling once eloquently designated them, to slap players from both teams on the back and say “Well done, old chap!”
It can be a bit of a punishing thing, especially after a loss. The function, in the aptly named ‘Spirit of Rugby’ room, does at least provide the chance to mix with the opposition and have a yak.
That’s something there is precious little opportunity to do in the game these days. It really only happens on the European tours.
The crowds at Twickenham can get into it, especially around the singing of ‘God Save the Queen’, but of all of the venues that the Wallabies are appearing at on this tour, Dublin will be the most passionate.
The expectations of the Irish will have undoubtedly been raised by this year’s Six Nations title, and Lansdowne Road was always the loudest Test match ground anyway.
If anything, the stylised enclosing of the old ground into the modern stadium we see now has only made it even louder. The noise simply blasts out onto the pitch, almost like the place has a roof.
As last year showed, Dublin offers other ‘attractions’ too, although I’m picking the new gaffer’s reputation might scuttle a few ‘sight-seeing’ tours this time around.
The Irish love their rugby, and are very hospitable people. They are also good losers, and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way.
Good humour is always in plentiful supply, they certainly don’t sulk or moan about a referee’s decision. Everyone simply has a pint and a laugh and gets on with enjoying themselves for the evening.
With an attitude like that, it’s hard to begrudge them a win every now and then – as long as it’s against someone else of course!
The Welsh are also as passionate, but in a different, suffocating kind of way.
Maybe it’s because rugby union is their national sport, which it isn’t across the Irish Sea, but the ‘boyos’ are a bit like the South Africans.
They know the game, but they are also not slow in telling you how it is, sometimes with a patronising attitude, which only adds to the motivation for the weekend.
Apart from its usually crappy pitch, the Millennium Stadium is pretty impressive when full, especially for the singing of the Welsh anthem, Land of Our Fathers.
When you watch the Welsh players banging the hymn out, you can see how much it lifts them, in a not dis-similar way that the haka does the All Blacks.
At other times though, the ground can be a bit soulless. Especially when it’s less than full, which it has been for many of the end-of-tour ‘money’ games that have been played on recent trips.
Like most British cities, Cardiff has its cultural and architectural highlights. The castle, which stands across the road from the hotel all of the visiting teams stay at, is pretty impressive. But the weather would make living there a tough gig.
Which leads me to Paris, which is likewise pretty cold during the November Tests. It offers so much, though, that it more than makes up for the extra layer of clothing that is required in order to get around.
From the world famous Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph and Champs Elysees, to the colourful cafes of the St Germaine district; Paris is a city that’s always alive – the European version of New York (only a fair few centuries older!).
One of the things that has always interested me about visits to the ‘City of Light’ is hearing about what guys get up to.
The physio room (the HQ for all of the team gossip) is usually alive with the chatter as to who has actually done the cultural scene, taking the chance to see the famous landmarks, or go to the Louvre and the city’s various other fine museums.
It is also the venue where reports can be gained on who’s been more focused on the cuisine and the various other delights an evening in Paris can provide!
Without naming names, some of the answers in each instance would surprise you!
Then there’s who has been out on the sly, hitting the city’s world-renowned boutiques, in order to secure that special gift for a lucky lady back home.
This last piece of ‘activity’ is always a closely guarded secret, but the ‘information’ usually ‘leaks’ in the end with inevitable ‘consequences’, especially if the ‘romantic’ is among the younger members of the touring group.
Tests in Paris these days are held at the Stade de France in Saint Denis, which perhaps lacks the atmosphere of some of this tour’s other venues, but is nonetheless still pretty impressive.
Even though it’s a multi-purpose facility, the crowd is still close to the pitch, which makes it important to take them out of the game by getting on top early.
The singing of Le Marseilles is one of the most impressive sounds in rugby. It’s a beautiful anthem, but if the crowd starts singing it spontaneously it’s a bad sign. It inevitably means that the French are on top.
Get the patrons whistling or jeering and the going is good. They are either on the ref’s case, the home team’s case, or both!
Like the English, the French love their post-match formal dinner, which usually stretch well into the wee hours, given their Tests don’t kick off until 9pm. But the atmosphere is usually a little less stuffy than it is at Twickenham.
There is also a sure fire way of ensuring that you all part ‘the best of friends’, even if the Wallabies have just delivered a decent blow to France’s national pride.
To be popular tourists in France, even if you’ve beaten Les Bleus, the answer is easy: beat the English!
If you’ve already done that on tour, or promise to do it if the Twickenham game is later, you will always be among friends in France (and Ireland for that matter!).
It never fails.
Lano
Roar Guru
How do you know if someone went to a Private School? They'll tell you!! Bob Skinstad, lambie the only SA. Players win recent years. The rest of the SA players are all a public schools
Kirko
Guest
Sorry aboos - a bit of further clarity....re Farrell I meant that's what will happen against AB's and Bokkes and so by the time wallabies game comes around Lancaster could be forced to look elsewhere at 10 where they've all thought they had the answer. I've been to the last few years of these tours and our forwards have held up well despite pre-conceived ideas of refs and opposition. We will miss Moore and Pocock considerably and locks certainly aren't setting the world on fire & I think we need a poacher on the field, but our backline can use the ball more ruthlessly than England. Also Wales france and Ireland will, as always, just try to play a forwards and power up the middle game against Aus which doesn't work & particularly if the boys in gold show up like the last Bledsoe...in Aus's favour is 30 blokes out to prove themselves to a new coach with less than 12 months till rwc.
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
Team I would like to see by years end. 1) Slipper 2) Faingaa 3) Kepu 4) Simmons 5) Horwill 6) McMahon 7) Hooper 8) Higginbotham 9) Phipps 10) Foley 11) Speight 12) Beale 13) Kuridrani 14) AAC 15) Folau 16) Hanson 17) Robinson 18) Alexander 19) Skelton 20) Jones 21) Genia 22) Horne 23) Lealiifano
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
Yeah it will all be bad for Eng and all be good for Aus. How did Arg go after being battered by SA and NZ? How battle hardened were the Aus forwards then? England will be very hard to beat although they will be missing Mako, Croft, Parling (maybe), Cole, Corbisiero, T.Youngs and Tuilagi. Im not sure Farrell will be upset because his pack isnt dominating because they will dominate Aus. The key will be Australias ability to counter imo because if they cant then Eng may camp in their half notch up the win.
Birdy
Guest
s.t.rine - one thing I can say for certain, Scots and Aussies get treated a lot better at Twickenham than England fans get treated in Scotland or OZ. The atmosphere is generally fine in both Dublin and London during Ireland/England games.
Chan Wee
Guest
Chris Masoe, David Smith, Rudi Wulf (not sure if he is capped though) at Toulon. Luke Mac at Toulouse Chris King Tom Donnelly Alex Toulou Anthonu Tuitavake at Montpelier Fritz lee Mike Delany at Clearmont Bryn evans at Biarritz Saimone Taumoepeau Dan Kirkpatrick at Castres Jackson Willison At Grenoble Casey Laulala at racing Aled de Malmanche at Stade Français Jason Eaton Romana Graham Hamish Gard at Stade Rochelais Stephen Brett Lachie Munro at Lyon
s.t.rine
Guest
Hey Outsider You overlooked Pom rugby masses not sipping bubbly but in the nearby pubs downing pints before kickoff. I did it as a student for many years and watched in awe as fans got p****d, some times friendly, but often nasty as they reminded Scots fans of Flodden, Irish boyohs of the 1920 'troubles' and sometimes denigrating us as 'bloody colonials' until we talked about cricket. The result was thousands of fan watching and singing without really knowing what's happening on field as they can't wait to exit back to pubs. Nothing has changed! S T
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Fardy and Cliffy are big losses particularly Fardy who has played himself back into very good form. The forwards aimed up very well in Brisbane and most do so for the next month. They are playing for there positions on this tour.
Chan Wee
Guest
Payne was a classy wing with Crusaders. problem was he was up against even better wings in NZ like Jane for a world cup place. How he plays at 13 I dont know but definitely he is a quality player , just like Sean maitland .
Common Sense
Guest
If Carl Hayman, Rene Ranger and Corey Flynn could come back just for next year as injury cover at the world cup then I'd be happy.
Common Sense
Guest
Capped All Blacks Injured Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Tony Woodcock, Luke Romano, Tawerra Kerr-Barlow. Overseas Carl Hayman, Rene Ranger, Richard Kahui, Ali Williams, Nick Evans, Brad Thorn, John Afoa, Andy Ellis, Piri Weepu, Adam Thomson, Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Joe Rokocoko, Zac Guildford, George Whitelock, Daniel Braid, Hosea Gear, Isaia Toeava, Lelia Masaga, Brendan Leonard, Neemia Tialata, Corey Flynn, Anthony Boric, Jarrad Hoeata, Benson Stanley. Don't even get me started on the '3 year poach' players, there are tons of those.
Kirko
Guest
England will be playing the Wallabies after 3 brutal weeks against AB's, Bokkes & Samoa (and they're already without a fair number of players)...sure they will beat Samoa, but they will get bruised & it will be a harsh respite after what they will receive from their first 2 games. England still fear islanders for some reason...i'm also predicting some dummy spits from Owen Farrell who can't handle it & gets very catty when his packs not dominating & it is due for the referees to no longer ignore is petulance & he will start getting carded. The Wallabies will come into the England game with a battle hardened pack & hopefully a more settled backline that by then should be chiming nicely, and one would think a whole newly invigorated squad & coach with nothing to lose and plenty to prove. If I was Cheika i'd be playing the Barbars game very much like a trial - almost a game of 2 halves. I'm looking forward to being in the crowd.....the 2008 game at Wembley despite being one of the coldest nights I've experienced was a cracker of a game...a young fella called James kicked his first points as a Wallaby but the highlight was the intensity between George Smith taking on Jerry Collins & Shalk Burger - it was brutal & the sound of the collision reminded me of Spud Carrol v Chief Harrigan.
Crazy Horse
Guest
The one game I can't lose. as an Irish-Australian I support both teams:-)
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Jonno you carry on like the wallabies are so hard done by. NZ and SA are missing many more than them and far better quality as well. Think Carl Hayman Nick Evans et al. And yet aussies are keen to act hard done by. You have poached plenty of SANZAR talent tp replace them anyhow.
JT
Guest
As a South African, you're talking absolute crap. Rugby is popular in public and private schools alike. Grey College (38 springboks),Paul Paul Roos (37 Springboks), SACS (16), Paarl Boys High (19) etc. It actually appears more springboks have come from public than private schools. As for saying rugby isn't a major sport in SA and the rest of your rubbish comment, then you've obviously never been there and are just trolling for a bit of attention. Good job..
Harry
Guest
I am reasonably optimistic. Close to optimum backline available (maybe JOC and Honey Badger would improve it) some quality and depth at loosehead, a decent tighthead and some depth in the second row. Backrow a worry, as is tighthead if Kepu goes down. We just have to muddle through at hooker. Go the Wallabies.
Harry
Guest
Two injured or OS Wallaby forward packs ... Sio Moore Ma'aafi Douglas Timani Mowem Pocock McCalman Holmes TPN Palmer Kimlin Pyle Fardy George Smith Palu (who is a lot better player against NH sides than NZ and SA) The second one a bit weak in the second row, maybe the great pretender McMenimem whose back in Japan.
Harry
Guest
Fringe selections Kimlin, Palmer, Ma'aafi (going very well by the end of last season) as well. And the great George Smith ... how useful would he be in the matchday 23 against the French for instance.
ric
Guest
Think the All black game too soon for England ,but if i was the Wallabies watch out as they would have had two warm up games before they hit the wallabies,also don't think they'll put Carter in for England, more like to play him for 40 against Eagle and 60 against Scotland
Derm
Roar Guru
Leaving aside the big squad named above, the reality is that Ireland will be down some key players/likely starters. Can Healy, Sean O'Brien, and Martin Moore as back up to Ross at TH. Dan Tuohy and Kevin McLaughlin are other absentees from the pack, whilst they're also missing experienced backs such as Luke Fitzgerald, Keith Earls and the form player in the Six Nations - Andrew Trimble. Added to that, Schmidt is only getting his first opportunity to try out the centre pairing he needs for the 6 Nations and the RWC in 2015. With O'Driscoll gone, there's no certain candidate, and the two he's looking at - Payne and Henshaw - are both uncapped. Ireland were definitely distracted last year with their focus too much on the game against ABs, this time around it should be a good dust-up.