Friday, December 7

You have no idea how long it took to get Internet access to be able to write this blog! There are several of us who are students and had work that needed to be submitted via e-mail, so we made a deal with the managers that if they took us to the Internet, we'd send out the update...  little did we know what a process that would be. 

There is Internet access on the RAF Halton (our home for the next 10 days), but it's in the Service Learning Centre, which is only open from 8:30 to 4:00pm - a schedule that doesn't really mesh when having two practices and lunch and meetings.  So instead we wandered out into town in hopes of finding someplace to get wireless access.  Everywhere we asked, we got looks like we had grown three heads Finally after several failed attempts, we took a cab to the Holiday Inn and used the Internet that they had in the lobby.  I was able to get my schoolwork in (and only 7 minutes late back home), and e-mail some other teammates work in for them -- so we're not going to fail out of grad school on tour.

In addition to that fun, we've had some really good practice sessions.  After arriving at Newark we took off for our overnight flight, where I personally got no sleep because I got sucked into Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  I'm such a sucker for movies on planes!

When we landed in Gatwick, we had the circus of dealing with tons of luggage and gear and then getting everyone through customs and out onto our coach bus that took us on our two hour ride out to the RAF Halton (with a slight detour to go by Heathrow to pick up Nathalie).  We got to the base and ate a super quick lunch before getting a briefing on the base and then had a late training session.  We were practicing under the lights and by the end of the practice we were all pretty much mud monsters.  Let's just say it was a bit damp and muddy. 

After practice we went up and ate dinner and had a team meeting where the roster for the match was announced.  I am excited to be playing tight-head against the nomads. I will be propping against Leslie Cripps, who plays for Canada, who I have played against a number of times and it is always a good battle.  After that we were free to do our own thing, which was good for me because I had to finish writing my paper and then head to bed.

Today we got up and had breakfast... I still can never get used to baked beans and stewed tomatoes for breakfast no matter how many times I come here.  After breakfast we headed down to the meeting room/field (which is a small hike - 20 minutes or so) where we went over some plays and game plan stuff before heading out to the pitch.  The morning's session was good and involved working on set piece stuff... lineouts and scrums, YIPPEE!  After practice we went to lunch and then I went on a mission to see if there was Internet on base.  Then it was back out for another session on the pitch. 

We started with some more scrum work and then worked on defense before putting it together for a team run around.  We were going to the pool, but a slight miscommunication wound up happening and instead we wound up going back up and having some more down time before dinner, which was good for me because I had a few pages to finish yet on the paper.  Then we went to dinner and off to the jersey presentation.  It was exciting to get that again... despite having been involved in quite a number of them, I still get a little emotional... It was also fun to get jerseys with a sponsor's logo (First Sports International), because we haven't had that experience before.  It's good to see that we're starting to get some recognition in that regards and hopefully we can maintain that.  After the  jersey presentation began the expedition to find Internet.  And thus it is 11:11 at night and I'm just finishing up this while Yvonne Parkhurst waits patiently.

Tomorrow will be interesting at the game.  It's at 11am, which is 6am to me and 3am, to the folks from the West Coast... nothing like confusing the body clock a little. :) But I am super excited to play, and see what this team is going to bring to the Nomads.  Everything was starting to really gel by the end of training today, so it's going to be a good match.  I don't know if I'll be the one doing the next installment of this blog, but if I am I'll let you know all the details of it... and if not, I'm sure the next person will do you the service.

- Jamie Burke - prop, Berkeley All-Blues

Tuesday, December 11

As we head into our second match against England A, our players exude excitement and viciousness toward the opposition. As the players grow closer throughout the tour, the camaraderie really shows on the pitch. New players and veterans are learning from each other everyday. New ways of communicating are being developed. Rugby moves from the wise are being passed along and inventive, risk-taking ideas are getting filtered in everywhere. The mix of rookies and veterans on this tour creates a balance of spontaneity and a calming, in depth perspective of experience.

During the off hours players stay rested, warm and well-fed. We disperse with friends to rest our minds and bodies. Players can be found chatting in hallways, gathering around computers to view DVDs, reading books, working on puzzles or playing card games. Each player is dedicated to the game and resting appropriately in preparation for it.

With each practice the USA players are fine-tuning their mental skills and repeating their game plan. The non-stop focus to win never leaves the team. No matter how many frozen toes are crunched or how muddy and wet we get, it is all in preparation to beat England A. Tomorrow, game day, everyone will rise with a single intent invested in our hearts and souls.

- Jaime Lange - lock, Olde Girls of Glendale

Friday, December 14

The end of this week we have focused on fixing some of the issues we had in the England A game in preparation for England on Saturday.  We definitely did not come out firing at the beginning of the England A game.  However, we were able to adapt and come back in the second half, putting on a massive performance and learning a few important lessons. 

The first of those is that in the future we cannot begin the game on our heels and take the first half to find our bearings.  We have to initiate the contact and we have to be moving forward.  The second is that with heart, determination, and execution we can turn the tables in our favor.  We took these lessons into the last few practices of the tour and ended focused and ready to attack England.

Now it’s Friday night and we’ve moved on from the comfort of the RAF Halton leaving the “plague” (a quite detrimental 24 hour stomach bug) successfully behind us.  We have settled into the Travelodge in Sunbury outside of London, just a short walk from the game pitch.  Tonight was our last jersey ceremony of the tour for the last game of the tour, the big one against England.  We’ve learned from our two previous games what it takes to compete at this level.  At this point there is nothing left to do but look to each other, play what we’ve practiced, and come out at the beginning of this game the way we ended the game against England A – strong, executing, and with momentum on our side. 

For me this is a big game, my first cap for the national team.  It’s a great feeling to know that the work I put in over the seasons and during this tour has finally come to fruition in this last game against England.  It will also be a pleasure taking the field with the other 21 players on the roster knowing that all our long walks to and from the pitch, all the cafeteria meals, all the cold damp weather, and the bonding on the “stoop” have brought us closer as teammates and friends. 

England is a huge challenge and one we as a team are up for.  For me, tomorrow is about heart and desire, about communication and execution.  I have to stay focused and alert and play my best game.  I’m proud to be wearing the #9 jersey and I’m proud to represent the USA.

- Kim Magrini – scrumhalf, Keystone