Thursday Night's For Training, N'est pas?
By Clontarf
December 17 2008
In my day it was all much simpler. Thursday night training consisted of a couple of laps of a mist enshrouded pitch, a sprint to the showers and a quick scan of the noticeboard en route to the bar. Did my blistering 10m run that almost produced a try last Saturday count more in the selector’s eye than the strikes against the head that I conceded in our scrums?
December 17 2008
In my day it was all much simpler. Thursday night training consisted of a couple of laps of a mist enshrouded pitch, a sprint to the showers and a quick scan of the noticeboard en route to the bar. Did my blistering 10m run that almost produced a try last Saturday count more in the selector’s eye than the strikes against the head that I conceded in our scrums?
At least the hooker wasn’t automatically blamed for malfunctioning lineouts in those days? Was I at home with the 3rd Bs or away to Skerries and their front row of gnarled fishermen with the 3rd Cs?
These days training is an altogether grander affair. Thursday evening’s run out for the league leaders at the Madejski required a team from Dax in the south of France to put them through their paces and the cameras of Sky Sports for post match analysis.
For spectators, Thursday night training, particularly if carried out in sub zero temperatures, requires some additional preparation. So it was that I got to my seat just in before proceedings began but wearing thermal undies and carrying a flask of soup.
London Irish picked a mixture of youth and experience. Dom Shabbo and Charlie Gower started in the threequarter line and the youthful but more experienced Dan Murphy, James Buckland and Alex Corbisiero made up the front row. Some like Sailosi and Seilala were excused training altogether.
My knowledge of Dax and their squad is very limited and so I will have to accept the prevailing view that they had not brought their best team for a training run in Berkshire in December.
Peter Hewat got proceedings underway with a short drop-out. Although Dax failed to secure clean ball aggressive tackling on their part caused London Irish concede a penalty in the centre of the pitch for holding on. Their out-half opted for kicking practice but the ball drifted wide.
Whilst the kick was being taken a big Dax player who looked like a lock but was either their loose head or hooker was replaced by a distinctly unfit looking No. 16, who reminded me somewhat of my youthful self and who was definitely in need of some training.
After the restart a quickly taken free kick by Richard Thorpe gained good ground and slick passing saw Elvis cut through the Dax defence with ease. He could have touched down under the posts, but mindful that this was a training exercise he dived over the line halfway out to give Peter Hewat some kicking practice.
PH (as he will be known in future) duly obliged leaving it 7 nil after 4 and half minutes.
Excellent runs by Declan Danaher and Topsy Ojo further exposed the need for tackling practice by the Dax players but failed to produce tries. Declan’s run yielded a penalty straight in front of the posts which would normally have been kicked to the corner but mindful that this was a training session Bobby opted for a kick at goal.
10 nil to Irish after 10minutes.
Dax Launched a garryowen into the Irish half to give Delon some unnecessary practice at dealing with high balls. Alfredo Lalanne stole it from under the master’s nose, landed facing the wrong way but turned and made 40m before feeding James Hudson. PH obliged and it was 17 nil to the Irish.
The remaining 25 minutes of the half were used by the Irish for some unusual training drills, the most conspicuous of which was the banning of multi-phase play. Whenever an Irish player got clean possession in the Dax half he was under instructions to attempt a solo try – this at least is how it appeared to me. After their earlier lapses the Dax players were equal to these individual efforts.
In this period also James Buckland was subject to some punching practice from Mickael Bert which resulted in trips to the blood bin for James and a citing for Mickael.
Towards the end of the half it became apparent that the players were not the only ones practising as Simon struck up a passage of Jingle Bells on the trumpet in preparation for Christmas celebrations.
So after a half played almost entirely in the Dax half the score was 17 nil.
Toby and Mike seemed to have changed the training routines during the break. Irish started to retain the ball, play through the phases and put pressure on the opposition. The forwards went to the left corner with Richard Thorpe once more to the fore and the ball was passed to the right where Delon was able to muscle his way over. PH was once again equal to the kick and it was 24 nil after 47 minutes.
Clarke Dermody had come on for Dan Murphy after 44 minutes and Nick Kennedy now replaced Bob. The Dax No.16 decided that he had enough of huffing and puffing and came off also. This resulted in uncontested scrums for the remainder of the session. Around this time Delon was replaced by James Bailey.
Nick Kennedy lived up to his nickname and promptly stole the ball at the 1st Dax lineout. The ball came left and Dom Shabbo nearly got his name on the score sheet but was held up over the line. From the scrum Alfredo fed Elvis who scored his second of the night.
Martin beside me said “bonus point”, I’ve no idea what that means but the bonus for Elvis was that he didn’t have to train anymore and was replaced by Shane Geraghty.
PH’s kicking practice continued as before and it was 31 nil after 52 minutes.
The next try 5 minutes later was real training ground stuff. Shane drifted left taking the cover and Topsy came like the proverbial express train on his right shoulder and left the full back grasping fresh air as he shimmied past him to score by the posts. This was against the coaches’ instructions and made it too easy for PH, 38 nil after 60 minutes.
Gary Johnson replaced Kieran Roche and Warren Fury came on for Alfredo. Dax decided to practise their passing skills on their own try line and were duly caught in
possession and punished when Warren Fury who was awarded a try by the TV match official. There was some discussion about double handling in G5.
London Irish were themselves guilty of over ambitious passing in their own half soon after and a loose ball was seized on by Pezet who sent Bornman over in the corner. Tuquet converted to make it 45 – 7 after 73 minutes.
Topsy walked slowly off the pitch at this point with what may be a tweaked hamstring, proving the point known to all coarse rugby players – training in cold weather is not a good idea, its much better to sit in the bar and bond with your team mates.
Dax were penalised for a high tackle on Gary Johnson and a pinpoint kick to the corner set up a lineout on the 5m line. Nick Kennedy passed off top to Warren Fury who bagged his second. PH maintained his 100% record to leave it 52 – 7 in the dying minutes.
Caimh announced that there were 6000 of us there and that the tireless James Hudson was the man of the match. We believed the 2nd but not the 1st.
Nick Kennedy was next to leave the pitch, I believe, as a result of a clash of heads so Irish went into the last couple of minutes down to 13 men.
As we were grabbing our tartan rugs and hipflasks and preparing to leave PH decided to show the other side of his game. He spotted a gap in the Dax defence not visible to ordinary mortals and was through it in a flash. He made to touch down after crossing the line but thought the better of it and went behind the posts obviously deciding that the time for practice was over and that he was entitled to a simple tap over to maintain his flawless record on the night.
London Irish 59 – US Dax 7.
A quick look at the notice board en route to the bar revealed that there was no match on Saturday, what’s the world coming to?
These days training is an altogether grander affair. Thursday evening’s run out for the league leaders at the Madejski required a team from Dax in the south of France to put them through their paces and the cameras of Sky Sports for post match analysis.
For spectators, Thursday night training, particularly if carried out in sub zero temperatures, requires some additional preparation. So it was that I got to my seat just in before proceedings began but wearing thermal undies and carrying a flask of soup.
London Irish picked a mixture of youth and experience. Dom Shabbo and Charlie Gower started in the threequarter line and the youthful but more experienced Dan Murphy, James Buckland and Alex Corbisiero made up the front row. Some like Sailosi and Seilala were excused training altogether.
My knowledge of Dax and their squad is very limited and so I will have to accept the prevailing view that they had not brought their best team for a training run in Berkshire in December.
Peter Hewat got proceedings underway with a short drop-out. Although Dax failed to secure clean ball aggressive tackling on their part caused London Irish concede a penalty in the centre of the pitch for holding on. Their out-half opted for kicking practice but the ball drifted wide.
Whilst the kick was being taken a big Dax player who looked like a lock but was either their loose head or hooker was replaced by a distinctly unfit looking No. 16, who reminded me somewhat of my youthful self and who was definitely in need of some training.
After the restart a quickly taken free kick by Richard Thorpe gained good ground and slick passing saw Elvis cut through the Dax defence with ease. He could have touched down under the posts, but mindful that this was a training exercise he dived over the line halfway out to give Peter Hewat some kicking practice.
PH (as he will be known in future) duly obliged leaving it 7 nil after 4 and half minutes.
Excellent runs by Declan Danaher and Topsy Ojo further exposed the need for tackling practice by the Dax players but failed to produce tries. Declan’s run yielded a penalty straight in front of the posts which would normally have been kicked to the corner but mindful that this was a training session Bobby opted for a kick at goal.
10 nil to Irish after 10minutes.
Dax Launched a garryowen into the Irish half to give Delon some unnecessary practice at dealing with high balls. Alfredo Lalanne stole it from under the master’s nose, landed facing the wrong way but turned and made 40m before feeding James Hudson. PH obliged and it was 17 nil to the Irish.
The remaining 25 minutes of the half were used by the Irish for some unusual training drills, the most conspicuous of which was the banning of multi-phase play. Whenever an Irish player got clean possession in the Dax half he was under instructions to attempt a solo try – this at least is how it appeared to me. After their earlier lapses the Dax players were equal to these individual efforts.
In this period also James Buckland was subject to some punching practice from Mickael Bert which resulted in trips to the blood bin for James and a citing for Mickael.
Towards the end of the half it became apparent that the players were not the only ones practising as Simon struck up a passage of Jingle Bells on the trumpet in preparation for Christmas celebrations.
So after a half played almost entirely in the Dax half the score was 17 nil.
Toby and Mike seemed to have changed the training routines during the break. Irish started to retain the ball, play through the phases and put pressure on the opposition. The forwards went to the left corner with Richard Thorpe once more to the fore and the ball was passed to the right where Delon was able to muscle his way over. PH was once again equal to the kick and it was 24 nil after 47 minutes.
Clarke Dermody had come on for Dan Murphy after 44 minutes and Nick Kennedy now replaced Bob. The Dax No.16 decided that he had enough of huffing and puffing and came off also. This resulted in uncontested scrums for the remainder of the session. Around this time Delon was replaced by James Bailey.
Nick Kennedy lived up to his nickname and promptly stole the ball at the 1st Dax lineout. The ball came left and Dom Shabbo nearly got his name on the score sheet but was held up over the line. From the scrum Alfredo fed Elvis who scored his second of the night.
Martin beside me said “bonus point”, I’ve no idea what that means but the bonus for Elvis was that he didn’t have to train anymore and was replaced by Shane Geraghty.
PH’s kicking practice continued as before and it was 31 nil after 52 minutes.
The next try 5 minutes later was real training ground stuff. Shane drifted left taking the cover and Topsy came like the proverbial express train on his right shoulder and left the full back grasping fresh air as he shimmied past him to score by the posts. This was against the coaches’ instructions and made it too easy for PH, 38 nil after 60 minutes.
Gary Johnson replaced Kieran Roche and Warren Fury came on for Alfredo. Dax decided to practise their passing skills on their own try line and were duly caught in
possession and punished when Warren Fury who was awarded a try by the TV match official. There was some discussion about double handling in G5.
London Irish were themselves guilty of over ambitious passing in their own half soon after and a loose ball was seized on by Pezet who sent Bornman over in the corner. Tuquet converted to make it 45 – 7 after 73 minutes.
Topsy walked slowly off the pitch at this point with what may be a tweaked hamstring, proving the point known to all coarse rugby players – training in cold weather is not a good idea, its much better to sit in the bar and bond with your team mates.
Dax were penalised for a high tackle on Gary Johnson and a pinpoint kick to the corner set up a lineout on the 5m line. Nick Kennedy passed off top to Warren Fury who bagged his second. PH maintained his 100% record to leave it 52 – 7 in the dying minutes.
Caimh announced that there were 6000 of us there and that the tireless James Hudson was the man of the match. We believed the 2nd but not the 1st.
Nick Kennedy was next to leave the pitch, I believe, as a result of a clash of heads so Irish went into the last couple of minutes down to 13 men.
As we were grabbing our tartan rugs and hipflasks and preparing to leave PH decided to show the other side of his game. He spotted a gap in the Dax defence not visible to ordinary mortals and was through it in a flash. He made to touch down after crossing the line but thought the better of it and went behind the posts obviously deciding that the time for practice was over and that he was entitled to a simple tap over to maintain his flawless record on the night.
London Irish 59 – US Dax 7.
A quick look at the notice board en route to the bar revealed that there was no match on Saturday, what’s the world coming to?
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StumbleuponThursday Night's For Training, N'est pas?
Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2008 10:14
Thursday Night's For Training, N'est pas?
Re: Thursday Night's For Training, N'est pas?
Posted by: Griff (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2008 10:27
Really good report Clontarf, many thanks (and hope you're over your bug).
Re: Thursday Night's For Training, N'est pas?
Posted by: Props are not stupid (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2008 11:48
I really enjoyed reading your report. Thanks very much for a great effort.
Re: Thursday Night's For Training, N'est pas?
Posted by: Tjobbe (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2008 12:14
I read it all, which is rare!
Re: Thursday Night's For Training, N'est pas?
Posted by: MH@Biorra (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2008 15:24
Clontarf many thanks.
"Caimh announced that there were 6000 of us there and that the tireless James Hudson was the man of the match. We believed the 2nd but not the 1st".
Without question James Hudson played really well.
It appears to me that the announcement on the crowd size these days has all of the nonsense that surrounded Major Charles Ingram when coughing out the correct answer.
Incidentally I don't doubt the integrity of Caimh as he is no doubt repeating the information passed to him.
I just wish the figure of those in attendance was accurate and it appeared to me on television last Thursday that there was nowhere near 6000.
"Caimh announced that there were 6000 of us there and that the tireless James Hudson was the man of the match. We believed the 2nd but not the 1st".
Without question James Hudson played really well.
It appears to me that the announcement on the crowd size these days has all of the nonsense that surrounded Major Charles Ingram when coughing out the correct answer.
Incidentally I don't doubt the integrity of Caimh as he is no doubt repeating the information passed to him.
I just wish the figure of those in attendance was accurate and it appeared to me on television last Thursday that there was nowhere near 6000.
Re: Thursday Night's For Training, N'est pas?
Posted by: CharlieG (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2008 15:33
I think we've been through this before.
The conclusion was that the figure that is announced at the game is the number of tickets sold - including all Season Tickets. The actual number of people that go through the turnstiles is not mentioned.
While most of us feel that this is wrong, and it should be the number through the turnstiles, this does put us on a level playing field with other GP clubs.
In the past, I believe that we used the number of people through the turnstiles, whereas other clubs used the number of tickets sold, which put us at a disadvantage.
Perhaps Ciamh can confirm?
The conclusion was that the figure that is announced at the game is the number of tickets sold - including all Season Tickets. The actual number of people that go through the turnstiles is not mentioned.
While most of us feel that this is wrong, and it should be the number through the turnstiles, this does put us on a level playing field with other GP clubs.
In the past, I believe that we used the number of people through the turnstiles, whereas other clubs used the number of tickets sold, which put us at a disadvantage.
Perhaps Ciamh can confirm?
Re: Thursday Night's For Training, N'est pas?
Posted by: MadMonk (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2008 18:57
The solution is simple. When purchasing a season ticket you enter into a contract to attend every match to which the ticket entitles you. ticket sales now = bums on seats
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