Hi there everybody,

It is very nice to write this update when you’ve won, and certainly helps when you are far away from home.

Saturday really went well. With games starting as late as 19h00 or even later, it is always a challenge to keep the players busy or to pass time until the preparations for the match actually start.

Most of the players sleep till quite late and only get up around lunch time. It kills time and makes the day much shorter. It also helps to adjust to the new time zones.

Most of the players only showed their faces around 12h30 (lunch time) on Saturday.

After that, things went quickly and the preparations went without a hitch.

Every one of the management team has his duties on match day and all did that very well. The bus left for the stadium at 17h45 after all the strapping and the team talk was done.

In the change room before the game, final details are adhered to. The coach has a media interview and the captain do the toss.

The match went well and the good fight back in the second half created a very happy spirit in the change room after the game.

During the contiki, some members were given a lot of stick as the committee refused to do any favors to anyone!

Sunday was travel day to Auckland.

The team traveled in two batches. The management and four players left early in the morning for Sydney and connected to Auckland from there.

The remaining 21 players flew directly to Auckland later in the afternoon.

The time difference between Perth and Auckland is five hours and it will be very important this week to adapt to that.

All arrived safely in the ‘City of Sails’. We are staying in the Crowne Plaza in the inner city for the rest of the week.

Every one is looking forward to this week with its challenges and all are keen to try and break the bogey against the Blues on their home ground.

Cheers, Org.