By Kath 29/10/03
October 31 2003

Josh Lewsey talks to Zurich and Metro about, the Samoans, the team arrival at the Gold Coast, downtime for the lads and how the different times zones have had an effect?

For immediate release: 29 October 2003
Issued on behalf of Zurich

Josh Lewsey on www.zurichpremiership.com and in Metro

The immediate accusation after the Samoa game was we underestimated them
but I can assure you this wasn’t the case.  The media underestimated them as
they led people to believe winning would be little more than a formality.

The Samoan team is littered with Super 12 regulars and no doubt by the
start of next season, we will also see many of these pacific powerhouses
gracing the Zurich Premiership.

It’s true we gave them too many penalties and, by our standards, the
defence was below-par at first.  However, the focus should not be on our
shortcomings but on the fact Samoa produced some of the best rugby of the
tournament.

It makes their date with South Africa avid viewing next weekend.  It is
also worth noting that after the cricket scores of the first few weeks, this
evenly-matched Test was one of the first true contests of the World Cup.

Allied to perfect conditions within the indoor Telstra Dome and the
crescendo of noise, the game must have been a fantastic spectacle even for
those who don’t yet understand rugby.  Perhaps more pleasing is that in such
a physical encounter, our squad managed to survive relatively unscathed as
far as injuries are concerned, which bodes well as we enter week four.

On arrival at the Gold Coast, our management highlighted the need for
downtime this week so our bodies and, more importantly, our minds are
rejuvenated before the next group of games start on Sunday.  The intensity
of international rugby is such that when one does have the chance to get
away from the game, it must be grabbed with both hands.  The first afternoon
was taken up by a quick nine holes at what has become the obligatory pastime
for professional sportsmen.

What we didn’t account for, however, with all the travelling, clocks going
first forward then back and the changing time zones was that it gets dark at
about six.  Subsequently, fewer people than normal saw Matt Dawson (one of
our more cultured golfers) shank his tee shot into the lake. Needless to
say, Will Greenwood did his utmost to rectify that.

After a tough morning blow-out on Tuesday, we donned Speedos and shorts
and left for Wet'n'Wild. The sight of 30 rather large, fully grown men
queuing for the water slides with five year old children was quite amusing
to behold.

I did, though, feel slightly sorry for the young families who had picked
that day for a nice trip out.  Indeed, the thought of 250kg on the tandem
rubber rings crashing down behind you brings a whole new meaning when you
get stuck half-way down “Terror Canyon”!

Josh Lewsey

ENDS