Skip to main content

George North: How to get ready for the Aussies...

0

View comments

The Australian press have been bigging us up ahead of the first Test. The TV advert that has been running in the build-up calls us the 'European champions' who are coming on to their turf. It's a bit over the top, but good marketing, good for ratings and it's quite funny. I guess we are European champions in a way, but in Wales we call it the Grand Slam!

We trained for the first week out here with just 16 players so we're sevens specialists now. With the rest of the squad staying in Cardiff for the Barbarians match, it was a case of going through patterns of play, set pieces, strike patterns. The jet lag has been a nightmare but we knew we had to head out here early as we have a job to do.

George North: Ready for action

For a couple of days we had the help of a local team called Brothers Rugby Club, who are top of their provincial division. They came to train against us and were a decent outfit with a few good players. The second day we even did full contact, every man for himself. They had a back who played fly-half on the first day then moved to the wing on the second. He had a step like Quade Cooper.

I'm sharing a room with fellow wingman Alex Cuthbert.

It's been sorted by positions on this trip. As soon as the first game comes it will all fly by - game, recovery, four days' training, repeat. I haven't even bothered to unpack, I just dip in when I need something. The World Cup was nine weeks but, with matches, recovery and four days' training, each week really does just seem to disappear. 

We didn't have any internet for the first few days. Everyone was trying to email friends and family but couldn't. It was $150 for five days' Wi-Fi at the hotel so the boys went off to the shops to buy a dongle. They seem to do the trick. I like Brisbane. On the first night we went to the restaurants on the river which are very nice but it costs about $50 for a small 8oz steak - and it doesn't even come with potatoes!

On the run: Jonathan Davies during training

We haven't been subjected to the cryotherapy capsule here yet but we have been using this man-made lagoon for our warmdown. It is a 20-minute walk from the hotel and it's freezing - I mean UK cold! We all jump in and stand in the water for five or 10 minutes. With the walk back as well, it makes for a good recovery session. 

The table tennis isn't going so well as Rhys Priestland is flying again. He beat me yesterday and Mike Phillips is playing well, too. The table is on an open balcony above the hotel lobby and you can hear the boys downstairs. Everyone is quite competitive, as you can imagine, and people at the reception keep looking up, thinking, 'What's going on here?'  

Warren Gatland has still left his mark on the squad. We have such a system in place that, if you drop a few people out and put a few people in, the machine still works. He's a big person to lose but I'm sure he still has his input even though he's not here physically. The boys have sent a few things across to him and, fingers crossed, his recovery is going well.

People keep asking me about the Lions but I'm honestly not thinking about it. I'm quite superstitious and I don't like talking about things that might not happen. If it happens, it happens; if it doesn't, I'll have to take that on the chin and work harder. But  I'm here and we need to knuckle down and win a Test series against Australia. 

I wasn't born the last time Wales won out here - I don't even think my parents were! It's a big ask, but we play for each other so we have a good shot at this. We've got a really good chance to take a scalp.

The Scotland match tells us nothing about the Wallabies. 

Will Genia was shivering during the second half, that's how bad the conditions were. We watched it to try to take some lessons from it but it was impossible.

It was sunnier in Brisbane. Shaun Edwards and a few of the guys went to the Suncorp Stadium to watch the Broncos play the Newcastle Knights in an NRL match. It's good to get an early peek at the stadium.

  More... Warburton ignores history lesson to deliver upbeat message Knives are out for embarrassed Wallabies as Wales prepare for a backlash


Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o