It was such a relief to get the victory last week. I have been involved in quite a few close finishes for Wales against Australia , and they have not gone our way but before last Saturday’s game I remember telling myself that, if it did get close again, then it had to go our way sooner and later. And so it did, even if it was agony watching Kurtley Beale step up for that last kick.
Yes, it was close but the good thing is that we think we have got so much more to give today. Physically we can deliver so much more, and there are areas of the game where we know we can improve.
One of those is the breakdown, where there was a lot of talk after last week’s match about the referee Chris Pollock. My view? OK, there may have been a couple of decisions that we didn’t agree with, but that is the case in any game. We as players make mistakes, so it is only understandable that the referee will make the odd one too. There are so many things to look out for at the breakdown that it is extremely hard to get the right call every time. I thought he was easy to talk to and I enjoyed working with him.
I also rather enjoyed George North’s try, as every Lions supporter did I am sure. He is unbelievable, an awesome athlete. He is so good that whenever he catches the ball I adjust my running line just to expect a line break and to be on his shoulder. The tussle between him and Israel Folau was exceptional and it will be another interesting match‑up today.
I said to George this week: “You do realise that try will be on the reels now for years and years as one of the great Lions tries?”
He just laughed but he was a little bit gutted, because his partner Becky James was in the air, still flying over to Australia, when the game was on. He really wanted her to be here for that. I think he is hoping to do something similar again this weekend so she can see it in the flesh.
I was pleased with how relaxed I was before last week’s match, and we have been keen to make sure we all relax again this week before today.
My parents and my fiancé Rachel have come over and I spent last Sunday with them in Brisbane at my godmother’s house. My parents stayed in Brisbane a bit longer but I was able to have a nice day with Rachel last Wednesday here in Melbourne on our day off. We had a lovely walk along St Kilda beach and a seafront lunch.
And we are able to walk without too much attention. I know there have been stories of some players going out in disguise – and I did go out once in Brisbane with a cap on and my hood up – but it has not been too bad.
We really do appreciate all the support. George and I took the 10‑minute walk to the Adidas store in Brisbane last week and we were only stopped a couple of times (they were Welsh fans), while it was no problem at all to pose for photos once inside the store, even though it was not a planned visit.
Anyway sometimes it is good to see some familiar faces out and about.
That was certainly the case for me recently when I had to find my own way home from training. That was my forfeit after I had been fined for wearing the wrong shoes to a function – I had black on when it was supposed to be brown – and I was happy to chance upon a BBC Wales crew who gave me a lift back to the hotel. I promised them a feature after the tour just for their troubles.
And maybe Leigh Halfpenny will have to do the same. His forfeit is also to find his way home from training one day, but his fine is particularly harsh and unexpected. Leigh is the absolute golden boy. He is so diligent and organised, spending hours on the laptops reviewing games, and never putting a foot wrong on or off the field.
But he missed a kick last Saturday. That was what he was fined for! Now that is harsh. And, before anyone says we should not be doing that sort of thing, it is only in jest, and Leigh took it that way.
Today is the time to get serious again.
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