Sometimes your best just can't cut it.

Losing sucks. But losing when you know you didn't give everything you had sucks even more. Thank goodness that didn't happen yesterday. While the score may not reflect the actual closeness of the game, we know gave everything we had. Did we make mistakes? Sure, who doesn't in a game? But we came together and kept on fighting.

This past week at training I had another opportunity to have a technique session with Peter DeVilliers. I find it amusing how I've flown thousands of miles to learn about the importance of two inches. In the scrum, quickness is everything. We may look blocky and clumsy (I'm not saying we aren't) but get us in a scrum, and we'll be just as quick as any makeup wearing back. The scrum basically works in three basic stages: 1) On "engage", be the first prop across the mark (the invisible "line of scrimmage" which is about two inches away from your face) 2) Have all 8 forwards push as one against the opposition's 8 forwards. 3) Push the other team back and laugh while you do it. You only get to laugh at the other team when you first beat them to those two inches. Once that is done, give everything you have until the ball goes out to the backs where they will almost always knock it forward and the whole process repeats itself. (NOTE: If you ever tell a back that, they will lie through their shiny teeth and tell you I was wrong but backs are never to be trusted. Especially with important things like chainsaws, your beautiful daughter, anything shiny, etc etc.)

As the week progressed, it seemed Aaron(miss you boet) took the good weather with him back to the states. Rain, rain, wind, and more rain were all that we saw through the week. So much so that Thursday's training was cancelled due to the crazy weather. Things weren't looking so bright for the weekend. But we were shown that rugby truly is the game played in Heaven because yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. The Sun came out to watch but was respectful enough to leave some clouds around so that we would be able to stay warm without overheating. Mountain breezes came by to say hello at all the right times. We couldn't have asked for better weather (we should've asked for a win instead). I started for the second team and played the whole match. I was looking forward to showering and sitting down for a bit but I soon found out my shower would have to wait. I was called up to sub for the first side. With fifteen minutes left in the game, they put me in. The pace of the game was exponentially quicker than the one I just finished and I was forced to play catch up for a minute or two. Once I settled, it was business as usual: Scrum, ruck, tackle, run, punch (shhh). The first side ended up losing as well but they gave everything they had as well. All in all, a hard fought day with a bitter taste left in our mouths.

I'm hoping to try and see a bit more of the Cape before I leave in two weeks but we'll see how that goes.

Cheers,

Josh