Brian O'Driscoll's diary: The USA game was a new experience primarily because I've never been up at 8am on a match day. The early kick-off (1pm) meant that our normal routine wasn't applicable. There were a few somnambulists that morning as the team headed for breakfast. There was precious little conversation.
It was only when we headed for the team bus and the short journey to Lansdowne Road that there was a general realisation of how bad the weather was and the difficulties it would throw up in terms of playing. It wasn't a great start to the day.
There are times when it is more difficult to motivate players, when you face into a game that you're expected to win. Fortunately, we had a couple of new caps and also a fair sprinkling of guys who were dying for some action after being confined to the replacements.
We played poorly enough in the first half, even allowing for the conditions, although I'm not sure people realised just how strong the wind was. We didn't retain enough ball consistently to maintain the pressure levels and the only time we did, Eric Miller scored a try. The second half was a completely different story with Humphs (David Humphreys) pinging the corners.
It was a testing day for the two new caps, Tommy Bowe and Denis Leamy, but they emerged with honours. Tommy will always remember the occasion as it's not often you score a try on your debut. You'll notice that when he scored the entire team ran to the corner to congratulate him.
Denis also played well, but had to retire early from the post-match celebrations, the tension of the day obviously leaving the energy levels a little depleted. Not that he was alone. There's normally a case for chilling out until the small hours but after the American game and the early start, it was bed-time at 11.30pm; a throw back to the old school days.
You actually need to be genuinely tired after an international to hit the sack because if you're not then you end up replaying the entire game in your mind, which is even more draining. Sleep did not come easily that night.
A final thought on the game was that it was Strings' (Peter Stringer) 50th cap and it arrived with precious little fanfare. There was no announcement by the continuity guy when he ran on to replace Guy Easterby, which was a bit of a shame. He deeply appreciated the brand new tradition of those winning their 50th cap to say a few words at the post-match dinner. He's never reluctant to volunteer others.
You never know; if he's good we might even let him lead the team out for today's game. On Monday, it was back to CityWest, a situation that is distressingly similar to the film Groundhog Day. Returning to the cocoon that is life in our own little enclave of the hotel, a good two-day camel ride from reception. I can tell you the exact number of steps between the rooms and the main lobby of the hotel.
Our recreational facilities are beginning to show signs of wear and tear. When we were touring South Africa during the summer, amongst other things provided was a dartboard. The squad has adopted the game wholeheartedly. Unfortunately the sundry sets of darts are looking a little shabby and if truth be told, are kept together only by Cellotape.
There is no doubting the culprit, one Kevin Maggs. He chucks the darts like you would a spear and you always know when he's playing because of the thuds coming from the oche. Guy Easterby fancies himself as a bit of a player, probably from his farming days when he used to be down the pub from Monday through to Sunday nights.
He has been branded Guy 'The Snail' Easterby because it is simply not possible to play the game any more slowly. Shaggy (Shane Horgan) is well on his way to being a darts groupie. There are very few people he won't recognise in a television broadcast of the sport and he just loves Tony Greene. A group of us are considering heading for Lakeside and the world championships to experience that special atmosphere.
In the games room there is plenty of competition with Maggsie generally acknowledged as king of the pool table, a talent that goes back to his days of hustling in Bristol, while Ronan O'Gara makes a decent fist of table tennis. The cousin Gary, (Gary O'Driscoll team doctor) is pretty good at most things and while he likes to portray that he's easy going, he really, really hates losing. A PlayStation and compendium of board games complete the list of facilities.
Argentina will obviously present a very tough assignment, their victory over France - their fourth in the last four meetings - highlighting the ability of Los Pumas. I'm looking for ward to playing against Felipe (Contepomi) for the first time as a bone fide team-mate. He was with Leinster when we faced Argentina in the World Cup, but hadn't played for us. One wish is that the game is played in better conditions than the monsoon that descended on Lansdowne Road a couple of years ago.
This weekend will also see two Irish players in Gordon D'Arcy and Jamie Heaslip vying for World Player of the Year awards at senior and Under-21 level and everyone in the squad will be rooting for them. To be nominated in the first place is a fantastic achievement.
There is no let-up in the rugby calendar at present as no sooner will we break up after the Argentina game than it's straight back into European Cup fare with Leinster. The couple of weekends with back-to-back games against Bourgoin will be pivotal to the outcome of the pool. It'd be nice to have a few days off around the Christmas period. Dec (Declan Kidney) I hope you're taking note of that last comment. For now, though, it's about Argentina and finishing the November internationals on a high.
