Diary – Day Three

Day Three of the New Zealand Tour

Day Three Wednesday June 5th.

Once again we awaken to a bright clear misty morning with the promise of a sunny day and that’s the way it turns out with the sun already shining down on the squad by the time they leave for training at 9.45pm. The session is closed to allow Eddie O’Sullivan try out various combinations before naming the side for Saturday’s game at 12 noon. It was expected that by then the local media numbers would be swelled by the early arrivals from Ireland – Michael Corcoran (RTE), Gerry Thornley (Irish Times), Billy Stickland (Inpho) and Matt Brown (Sportsfile) – but it seems they’ve been subjected to an even more horrendous trip than the Irish squad and are delayed 24 hours, now expected to arrive on Thursday.

At noon, team manager Brian O’Brien calls out the starting line up for Saturday’s game and there is good news for Mel Deane who makes his senior international debut and a not unexpected return to senior level for Reggie Corrigan, Alan Quinlan and Justin Bishop.

The afternoon will be spent working with weights and then back to the Hotel for a rest before dinner at 6pm and then up to the Alpine Energy Stadium for a sponsors evening when the side will be officially welcomed to South Cantebury. Part of the evening will involve a traditional Maori welcome which hopefully we can report on in the Day Four account.