Claudia's adventures

Ireland Take 2 = WIN!!!!

2010-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

"There are not many opportunities in life when you get a second chance" - Kathy Flores

Those were the words from our coach at the jersey ceremony last night and we were able to take full advantage of that opportunity!!! We played really well (scoring first and last, just for my mother) and were all proud of our performance. We will play Canada on Sunday for 5th place. Ross told me that I should note for everyone that I scored a try today, but the ref didn't think so.....Also, according to Ross, afterwards, I stayed strong and provided the pass for Vix to score in the corner on the next play. =)

Another day, another round of rugby events

2010-08-31T13:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was busy with a morning lifting session, then an afternoon video session, then practice. Today we just had a pool recovery session in the morning and then a quick run-through on the game field this afternoon. Also in the afternoon, Mari and I went into town and sat outside a cafe enjoying the beautiful weather and the time away from campus. Tonight was the jersey ceremony and it was a little sad because my sister and her family weren't there this time, but my friend arrived today so it was cool to have her there with us. I'm so looking forward to having a second chance to take on Ireland. And I'm looking forward to getting into the game tomorrow (Kim is starting) and making an impact. It doesn't sound like there will be any webcasting of the game, but you should be able to see updates on the website and on twitter. Go Eagles!!!

played strong

2010-08-29T02:13:00.000-07:00

I hope you got to see the game - either on TV or online. We played England well, but weren't able to come away with the win. I've been slacking on my blog entries because I left the computer with my family again so they could have internet access. On Friday, we went to Arundel to see the castle there - it was really cool! I was so excited to get to spend time with the fam and actually do a tourist activity. Today, the team is going to Windsor to see a polo match. That should be cool, too. Then we will start looking toward our next match, which will be against IRELAND!!!

recovery

2010-08-26T04:45:00.000-07:00

I feel much better today. We have practice this afternoon - I think things will go well. It's time to move forward and get ready for our match against England!

Tough loss

2010-08-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

It's hard to write today. Yesterday's loss was a huge disappointment for us. We knew we needed to win that game and also get a bonus point to be placed well coming out of pool play. We also knew that Ireland would be very tough. True to their Irish spirit, they won a hard fought game. We just weren't putting together any phases of play and had no flow to our momentum. Eh. Today is a new day. I'll rest and think about the game some more, but then I need to start focusing ahead again. We play England in 3 days.

Game Day!! IRELAND

2010-08-24T05:19:00.000-07:00

We take on Ireland in just a few hours!!!! I'm so excited!!! I'll have to be careful that I don't go completely nuts on the field. =) Sorry I wasn't able to post yesterday, the family wanted some internet access time so they borrowed my computer for a little bit. Husband and daughter arrived safely (thank heavens!) yesterday. Other than that, it was a pretty slow day - just a light run-through and the jersey ceremony in the evening.

Here's some more info on match updates:

Twitter: @USAEaglesRugby - http://twitter.com/USAEaglesRugby

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Official-USA-Rugby-Fan-Page/341122858139

Link for broadcast coverage information for USA v. England:

http://www.universalsports.com/tv-listings/Universal_Sports_on_TV.html

'Mericans take over England

2010-08-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

My Mom and my sister, her husband and baby made it to England today! It's so nice to see them and hang out for a little bit. We had a ton of great (and rowdy!) fans at our first game and our cheering squad is only going to get bigger as more and more family and friends arrive!!

Day after game

2010-08-21T11:53:00.000-07:00

I went with Kim and her family to see Stonehenge today - it was really cool! This afternoon we had a video session to review yesterday's game and prepare for our upcoming match against Ireland. Although we played well and put up a bunch of points, there are still many areas for us to improve!

BIG WIN!

2010-08-20T14:17:00.001-07:00

YESSS!! First game jitters out of the way! It was pretty hard for me not to get out on the field today, but the team did great (after a few hiccups in the first half) and I feel so excited for our next match. It's going to be a tough one against Ireland, on Tuesday. The atmosphere of the event was awesome because all of the teams were at the same venue playing 2 games at a time (the game fields are side by side) throughout the whole afternoon. Tickets for the day were sold out halfway into the first game! So much fun - and of course, i didn't take a single picture. oops!

But here's a pic from earlier in the day...

First game tomorrow!!

2010-08-19T13:47:00.001-07:00

So excited for the game!!! But we had to contain ourselves all day so... this morning Kim, Christy and I went for a bike ride around campus and down to town to scout out the places our family and friends are staying and to burn up some time. This afternoon was a brief captain's run on the actual game pitch (all of our practices have been on the training pitches off to the side) and the team looked really good - crisp and sharp, other than the multiple slips due to wet grass from the rain and sneakers (we are not allowed to wear cleats on the game field until tomorrow).

As far as I know, tomorrow's game is not going to be televised or webcast, but live updates should be available on the Women's Rugby World Cup web site and I'll post an update as soon as I can.

Thanks for all your support so far - now comes the real fun!!!

It's TIME!

2010-08-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

This morning we had our "private" practice time at a pitch away from the rest of the teams so we could work on things without worrying about revealing anything before the game on Friday. The intensity was great and I had a really good time. And now, after what has seemed like an unending cycle of practice sessions, our practices are essentially finished. Sure, we'll still work on a few areas prior to our upcoming games, but at this point there isn't anything new we can learn or any new skills we can gain. Tomorrow will be very light and then the game is Friday. This is IT!! It's GO time! I'm so excited to be here and be part of this team!

Phaidra on "Made" - TONIGHT!

2010-08-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

One of our flankers, Phaidra Knight, will be in the episode of MTV's "Made" set to air August 17, 2010. Please check your local listings for the time and PLEASE TUNE IN!!!!

You can read more on this at the following:

http://www.thephaidraknight.com/?p=71

First opponent - Kazakhstan

2010-08-17T04:58:00.000-07:00

Just 3 more days until our first match! It finally felt like the team had a greater sense of purpose in our morning practice. Now, part of the trick to ensuring a solid performance in this first game will be managing our excitement and keeping our anxiety levels in check. We have a brief team run-through this afternoon that I hope will be intense, but not frantic. It's probably going to be a little messy because, of course, it's raining again. =)

Entrance to our building - Ireland is across from us and Canada is beside us

Women's Rugby World Cup - Here we come, for real !!!

2010-08-16T01:37:00.000-07:00

Moving day is today!! We're carting all of our stuff over to the WRWC village - just down the street from the main campus at the Surrey University Sport's Park. Yesterday we had the day off and Kim and I went to the cathedral on campus for Sunday morning service. It was nice, but a little strange - it was not exactly Catholic, but pretty close and I didn't follow everything... Later, we went down into town again. I'll post pictures as soon as I can. Hopefully it won't take nearly as long to get internet this time as it did when we first arrived here!!

Yesterday - watching a serious lawn bowling game

Saying goodbye to Twyford Court

MIDDAY UPDATE: We're in our new digs and they're pretty nice, except that I'm a million miles away from the rest of the team (2 people had to stay with the coaches/staff and I was mysteriously elected, along with another teammate). Okay, it's really just one floor away, but it seems far. =)

Home sweet home for the next 3 weeks.

Low key Saturday

2010-08-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

We had the standard morning practice, which was okay, but I still feel like we're a little ... frumpy maybe? I hope we start running on the high-octane-level soon. Eh, maybe I'm being too hard on us... This afternoon a few of us went into town again. I purchased a really disappointing milkshake - I would have loved one like Potbelly's vanilla, but this was more like sour milk - yuck! I think it gave me food poisoning!

Trip into town...

The gardens by the castle in town...

One week until Game 1

2010-08-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

Our morning practice was pretty good, but I don't feel like the team is into high gear yet. I'll give it until Monday when we move into the WC village and then I might have to do some raging around. We had off this afternoon and I spent most of my time doing laundry. There have only been a couple of practices in the rain, but the dirty clothes pile up quickly.

These are the fields at the Sportsplex where the pool games will be played. The WRWC village (our dorms) is in the background of the pic.

Sightseeing . . . on a rugby trip?

2010-08-12T09:01:00.001-07:00

No way! We had the day off and Kim and Farrah and I went into Guildford to see what we could see. There was a cute shopping district and a really old church (990 AD) and a cool little castle. My legs are kind of tired from walking around (oops...so much for resting them), but it was fun to actually do some sightseeing on a rugby trip for once.

finally have internet! sort of

2010-08-11T04:38:00.000-07:00

We were supposed to have wireless internet in our apartments... well.... it turns out that wasn't accurate. Then we thought we were getting passcodes to access the internet through ethernet cords in our rooms ... well ... it turns out that wasn't accurate either. Last night I scoured the campus looking for a wireless signal to 'borrow,' but I wasn't successful. Needless to say, I've been very frustrated the last three days having no access to the internet. Okay, I guess it's not that awful (now that I can use a computer at the library!), but it made me feel very disconnected not being able to email or skype with my friends and family. On a rugby note, we lifted this morning and have regular practice this afternoon. Things are going well. Can't wait for us to switch into full World Cup mode!

Signing liability waiver forms before entering Surrey Sports Park

"Boxing" in the weight room

lovely London weather

2010-08-10T04:36:00.000-07:00

Ah, this is the England weather I was expecting - I woke up to a chill in the air and some light rain falling steadily. =) Two practices today. The morning was mostly working on unit skills and this afternoon we pummeled each other during several intense tackling drills. We ended the day playing some very hard and very fun rugby. I’m excited that we’ll soon be unleashing on a World Cup opponent and not on each other.

Christy's luggage has still not arrived so she's using a trash bag for her rain jacket

Trekking out to the field in the rain

The Eagle Has Landed!

2010-08-09T04:36:00.000-07:00

Lots of Eagles!! We made it safely and, after some rest time, we hit the field. We did a light run through with mostly fun games and ball handling skills. Later, our first dinner here was a little weird because we were not all together. We’re cooking our own food this first week since we’re living in apartments so we’re only eating with the 5 people in our apartment.

Hanging out after arriving....

Road to World Cup!

2010-08-08T04:35:00.000-07:00

We’re on the way to London!! A couple of players missed their flights and we were not certain they would arrive in JFK in time to board our flight. Fortunately, they made it and we were all able to travel together. The flight wasn’t too bad and the food was actually really tasty (or else I was just really hungry).

Time to go!!

2010-08-07T16:15:00.001-07:00

After a nice, little vacation at the NJ beach, I am on my way to London tomorrow!! So excited to gather with the team and begin the next stage of our journey!

Here's the link to the TV story from the other night.

Lots going on!

2010-08-05T06:48:00.000-07:00

In addition to the Knicks send off party on Monday night, Mel's mom threw a send off party last night. It was very nice - thank you, Marge! She was also able to stir up some interest through our local news station and they came to the party to interview us. It aired on the 11 o'clock news last night (very fun!). Mel and I were excited to have a little coverage and have an opportunity to gain more attention and support for the whole WNT.

A couple of local newspapers (and an online media outlet) are also supposed to be running stories on us. I'll post links to them as soon as I see something.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me thus far - I really appreciate all the notes of congratulations, well wishes and prayers for safe travel. I'll cherish those as I go forward!!

week at home

2010-08-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

Residency finished on Friday and I was able to make it to my own bed late Friday night. Basically, we are all using this week to take care of things at home and tie up any loose ends so that we can be totally focused while we're in London. While we are physically apart we are not taking a "break" from the team mentality that we developed so well at residency.

On another note, tonight is a send off party with the Albany Knickerbockers. I saw a bunch of people yesterday at Saranac, but it will be nice to see a few more and soak in the good luck wishes! =)

rumors re: TV coverage of our games in England

2010-07-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest I have read about our World Cup games being televised in the United States: Apparently, two games will be broadcast on Universal, NBC Sports. The two games will be our game against England on August 28th and the Final, which will be played on September 5th. The games will be shown on a same-day delayed basis as follows: Saturday, August 28th at 7:00 PM; Sunday, September 5th at 8:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, times to be confirmed).

source

more work to do

2010-07-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

This morning we had a lifting session, plus a skills session (which for me involved working with the forwards on execution and decision-making in the lineouts). After lunch and a short break, we had another full team practice session to go over offensive lines of run in phase play and off of lineouts. Tonight we had a really good players only meeting to discuss some issues that have been bubbling around. We're all getting tired and a bit grouchy with each other, but the meeting was very productive and positive. Lots of good energy.

Christy showing lack of energy. :)

game review and some rest

2010-07-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

We had a pool recovery session this morning. Although the pool was packed with kids from the summer swim camp, we crunched into three lanes and did our usual workout to loosen our arms and legs. Then we reviewed the match from yesterday and talked about our strategies going forward into World Cup. A few of us went kicking after lunch, but we've had the afternoon off to rest and relax and it's been really nice.

Good game, NRU!

2010-07-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

Huge thank you to the NRU ladies for a hard-played match. They had a difficult task - help prepare the WNT and do it without some of their best players - and they met the challenge. As for us, the game really helped to iron out some things and exposed some others that, once cleaned up, can definitely raise our game. Five more days of residency, then we'll be home for a tiny respite.

Scrimmage tomorrow!

2010-07-24T19:33:00.001-07:00

The NRU has graciously agreed to play us tomorrow. We're all excited that we don't have a regular training tomorrow and that we get to practice some of our new skills on a team that doesn't already know all of our calls/plays. It does feel a little weird because I am from the NRU so I'll be playing against my teammates, but I'm sure it will be a fun, competitive game.

p.s. - i finally added some new pics to flickr!

TGIF doesn't mean too much here....

2010-07-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

Another day, another round of practice, meetings and ice baths. Actually, we did some good team work this morning and we have only a pool session this afternoon so it's a pretty nice Friday. I'm looking forward to seeing some of my NRU friends tomorrow and playing against them on Sunday.

Another day . . .

2010-07-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

Sue is heading home today. Very sad for me, but I guess it will be good for me to actually rest during our down times.

Here are some pics from our day off yesterday!

Day Off!

2010-07-21T18:37:00.001-07:00

We had a day off today and I spent it with Kim, Sue and Sue's grandparents in Acadia National Park. It was really nice. Photos to come....

Here are some pics

2010-07-20T14:25:00.001-07:00

Look at those strong ladies!

Sue and her friend, Cheeks!

Dusk out our apartment window.

Claudia and Sue at the beach during our last day off.

staying steady

2010-07-19T15:22:00.001-07:00

Our bodies are telling us we are officially into week 2. Actually, other than my legs feeling like tons of bricks, I feel pretty good. Things are starting to get a little tense around the field also, but it's mostly because we all want to execute everything cleanly and that's not happening...at least not yet!

mile 1 of the marathon

2010-07-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

We're a couple of days into training now. We're having fun and also getting in some good training sessions. I'm trying to pace myself mentally and physically for the long road ahead. I think the coaches are going to be pretty cognizant of that and have already scheduled a few "off" days for us. The campus is really beautiful and the weather is starting to cool off making things much nicer.

Wooo WHO - WNT Residency

2010-07-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

So the unprecedented 3 week residency begins. This is such an exciting opportunity for us to live, eat and breath rugby together for the next three weeks. I'm sure we'll be doing a lot of intense training that will give us the strength and skills we need to endure the rigors of World Cup, but we'll also be resting, relaxing and hanging out together, which will hopefully help us forge those unbreakable bonds that will serve us on the fields in London!

NEW WEBSITE

2010-02-23T18:26:00.001-08:00

CHECK IT OUT!!

http://www.wewantrugby.com/

Day before 2nd match!

2010-01-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is our chance to even things up with Canada. We had a team run through this morning and a pool recovery session this afternoon, then individual and team pictures with Jen Doan. The internal team dynamics are starting to shake up, which is a little uncomfortable right now, but it will be good for the team in the long run.

This is a lake that was on our way to the pool - tons of cool birds.

Hanging out after practice:

Kim doing the worm in slow motion

Waiting to go somewhere...

Canada takes game #1

2010-01-13T19:39:00.000-08:00

Argh. A loss is always disappointing, but this one was particularly so because we played really well in the first half - we were pressuring them the entire half and went into half time 8-0 US. And then things went south. Our spirit seemed to deflate the most when they scored a try with a center crashing up the middle completely untouched. We bounced back with just a couple of minutes to go, but it wasn't enough to take back the lead. Nothing much else to report from today. We had a pool recovery session at a local YMCA and then a video session this afternoon. Oh! I can't forget to mention something very rare in our world right now (and exciting to me because I've been craving junk food): we had cookies (from the Girl Scouts office next door), ice cream and chips tonight!

Game 1 vs. Canada!

2010-01-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

Jersey Ceremony was last night. This morning we had a light "workout" and now we're just hanging out.

Me and Mel

Go PSU!!

Day before 1st match (cont.)

2010-01-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

We had kicking practice this morning and then a team run-through this afternoon. We know Canada will be pumped up for this game since we beat them at Nation's Cup; we are looking for another win, but hope to play better than we did in August! I think our lineouts have improved and our backs are gel-ing better these days. Game time is 3 PM EST and will be webcast at the following address (i think!): http://www.ustream.tv/channel/usa-rugby

This is our dorm building

These are some of the baseball fields next to our dorm.

Kim and I (with Kathy onlooking) practiced our passes using the hanging tires (far left of pic below).

This is our locker room (Kim and Mel acting goofy)

Day before 1st match

2010-01-11T06:08:00.000-08:00

Today is pretty laid back as we do our final preparations for tomorrow's game. Here we are relaxing in the dorm's common room.

Atlantic Cup!

2010-01-10T14:34:00.000-08:00

I arrived yesterday so I'm doing a little bit of catch-up -- the rest of the team arrived on Wednesday night -- but we worked on team strategy today, which has allowed me to quickly feel like I'm on the page as everyone. Here are a couple of pics of our dorm room. We're staying at the spring training facility of the Detroit Tigers. However, i learned today that the pro players don't actually stay in these dorms; they stay in apartments in town. Eh, it's okay - the rooms/beds are nice enough.

Game DAY! vs. France

2009-08-22T06:07:00.001-07:00

This will be my last post before I return home to the States. Today is our final match! The game is at a different location - Fletcher's field, i believe - so we are leaving campus around 10:30. I am leaving straight from the banquet so I will say goodbye to what has been my home for the last two and a half weeks. That doesn't sound like very long, but it feels like we've been here for a quite a long time. The team has definitely benefitted from living, eating, and playing together non-stop for this whole time. It has set us up to have a very productive year leading into World Cup.

Evening update

2009-08-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post a couple of pics from tonight's jersey ceremony. It was really nice to have friends and family there for the event. Kim is starting tomorrow and I'm listed as a reserve.

Day before France match

2009-08-21T05:35:00.000-07:00

I was surprised by yesterday's activities because we actually didn't watch very much video. I think we will watch some of the France/England game today. We were supposed to have a team and family outing last night to a community pool, but that didn't happen because we got a gigantic thunderstorm here. Some of the girls went to England's dorm to hang out (they have a pool table and a fooseball table), others watched movies, and just hung out.

Here's a pic of us hanging out last night while waiting for the power to come back on

This one is of Ashley and Kim watching the storm

Day after Canada match

2009-08-20T05:19:00.001-07:00

We won!!! It was an ugly win, but we did manage to do some nice things. I got a huge bump on my forehead, which probably means I'll have a disgusting black eye for my first day of work at my new job on Monday. great... Otherwise, I'm feeling pretty beat up overall, but nothing is too bad.

Off to breakfast now, then more training/tape analysis because we have to prepare for a W over France.

Day before Canada match!

2009-08-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

The days are flying by now because we have so little time between games. I can hardly believe that we have a match again already. We had the morning off and I spent it with Ryan, Sue and Ryan's parents. We went to a little park on the Bay of Hamilton (or something like that) and walked around and let Sue play at a playground. After lunch we had a quick kicking/scrumming session followed immediately by our captain's run-through. The captain's run was pretty frantic today - I don't know if people are feeling too wound up or what is going on, but I'm not going to worry about it too much. Hopefully people will have their nerves in order by tomorrow night. The game is late (6:30) so we'll have all day to sit around waiting for the match.

This afternoon we went to a community pool to do our pool exercises (the pool on campus is closed this week for renovations - how convenient...) and to hang out/have some fun while cooling off. It's still extremely hot, but fortunately the humidity seems to be coming down some.

Tonight we'll have the jersey ceremony and then off to bed.

Me, Cheeks, Baker after handstand contest

Play time in the pool

Me and Kim

Day after South Africa match

2009-08-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Today was a full day for us. After breakfast we watched the first half of our S. Africa game. Then it was outside into the steamy air for some stretching and ice bathing. After lunch we watched the second half of yesterday's game and then had a light practice. The lineup for Wednesday's game against Canada was announced - I'll be starting at #9! After practice I jumped in the ice bath yet again, quickly showered and then met Ryan, Sue, and Ryan's parents for dinner. We had a little trouble finding a child-friendly restaurant in the tourist trap of downtown Oakville, but we finally found a nice joint and had a delicious dinner together. It was nice to get away from campus for a couple of hours. I had to race back to the dorm for another meeting where we analyzed ours and Canada's strengths and weaknesses. We're confidence we can give Canada a better game than the one we played in June.

Got my camera charger!

Here's a shot of me from a few days ago next to the cafeteria (there's a rainbow in the sky, but I don't think you can see it...)

Stretching this morning

Ice bath this afternoon

Game DAY!

2009-08-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

We WON against South Africa!!! Yeah! The score was 39 to 0. Not only did we get 4 tournament points for the win, but we also got a bonus point for scoring more than 4 tries. It was great for our morale to finally get a W on the board and to score a few tries in the process. South Africa was a good contest, but they are comparatively disorganized in phase play, which allowed us to break through their defensive line. I was proud of the team for shutting out S. Africa despite a couple of very close calls. However, I was a little disappointed I didn't get into the game to join the effort. I'll have to make the most of the next game I get to play!

Most of us have been sitting in our little living room watching a movie, but we can't now because we just blew a fuse. We tried to plug in the both the air conditioner and another fan. The tiny window air conditioner in the living room is the only air conditioning in our whole building...needless to say it is disgustingly hot everywhere except in the living room and now we don't even have that reprieve! Thanks to Beckett's Mom some of us have a fan for our rooms tonight.

Day before South Africa match

2009-08-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

It is super hot today. We had a brief practice for the kickers and throwers this morning at 10 am and it was already steamy. By the captain's run this afternoon it was a true steam bath. It's supposed to be like this tomorrow, if not worse. I am not starting this game; Kim Magrini is starting and serving as the on-field captain. The backline has some different personnel and they seem to be working out some timing issues, but it's getting better each time they step on the field. We will need to work together and stay in close support once we make breaks because the S.African team is very fast and will continue chasing (they do not give up). Tonight we have another pool session, then the jersey ceremony. FYI - i haven't been able to post pictures because my camera battery died, but I'm getting the charger tomorrow. Ryan and Sue will be here tomorrow through the end of the tour - yay!!!

Friday in Toronto

2009-08-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

Last night's variety show was hilarious as anticipated. I can't describe the details here as "what happens on tour stays on tour," but I can tell you there were some very shocking displays of team flair. We had this morning off and after a quick breakfast in the cafeteria I proceeded to sleep the entire morning away. We just returned from lunch and are getting ready for practice this afternoon. It will be our last real training before Sunday's match against South Africa.

Practice

2009-08-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry I didn't write yesterday! Not much going on here. Yesterday and today we had one practice per day. We also watched some game tapes - analyzing our play and S.Africa's play (our next game is against S.Africa on Sunday). Tonight we will watch England v. France and S. Africa v. Canada. We're looking forward to scoping out our opponents live. Afterwards the team is doing a "variety" show. We split the team into our subunits (backs/tight five/loose forwards and scrumhalves) and each subunit will perform a skit - it's going to be pretty hilarious. There's not much else for us to do for cheap entertainment up here. =) Tomorrow night we are going to a movie in the park - "Bolt" - about a dog and his friends...

That's all for now.

Post England - day of rest

2009-08-11T14:20:00.001-07:00

Our day of rest hasn't actually been all that restful. Most of us were not able to sleep well last night because of emotions still swirling around, and for myself feeling a bit nauseous (probably from dehydration) didn't help the sleeping situation. I'm feeling better today. Mel, my roommate, forced me to drink a ton of water before going to bed and I think that really helped. We had a pool recovery session at 7am this morning. That was pretty awful - not the swimming part, but the waking up part. We spent almost the whole day analyzing yesterday's game. That hasn't been too fun either. However, it is a necessary step if we are going to enhance our strengths and minimize our weaknesses. I think it will pay off. We have to make sure we're improving from one game to the next.

Tough loss

2009-08-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

We played a great first half. I think the score at halftime was England 10 - US 7. England opened the second half pressuring us with their offense and didn't let up at all. We played really hard defense for multiple phases in a row, but they were eventually able to break through our defensive stand. With about 10 minutes to go Kim Magrini came into the scrumhalf position and I was pushed out to flyhalf because our backup #10 was injured after she entered the game. The game ended with one of England's backs running right over me and eventually making her way to the try line. Not a very pleasant way to end the game. Also a reminder of why I don't play 10; additionally a reminder of my need to be prepared to stop fast hard runners from plowing me over if I do play 10.

Pre-game locker room

UPDATE at 2:30pm EST

2009-08-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

So we're still sitting around waiting for the match. Argh. I am used to playing first thing in the morning (or at least before noontime). This waiting is annoying to me. The forecast has not really improved. If it's lightning here the games will be rescheduled for tomorrow. If we play at least one half and then the game is called, the game is will stand as-is.

Team meeting this morning in the dungeon conference room

Hanging out in the TV room

Subunit film interviews for Beckett's documentary of the WNT's road to World Cup 2010

GAME DAY!

2009-08-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling good...had a big breakfast. We have a lot of sitting around today because the game is not for so long. We're doing a light run-through with just the rostered 22 this morning. It's pretty hot and humid this morning and we're supposed to get scattered thunderstorms during the day. Hopefully it will be clear at match time, or at least no lightning. England will certainly be used to sloppy conditions, but we can definitely deal with it.

Night of Mystery

2009-08-09T19:25:00.000-07:00

So...tonight a bunch of us watched the Mystery of Alaska (i think that's what it was called - it was about a town in Alaska whose hockey team played the NY Rangers), while outside a terrible thunderstorm raged around us. The movie was a fun, relaxing and somewhat inspiring sports movie that reminded us it's not all about winning. Although I seriously hope we finish with a win tomorrow. Anyway, the rest of the day was low-key, as expected. We worked on our defense a tiny bit more and then had our captain's run through. People are looking sharp and are excited to play tomorrow. We had a relatively quick version of the traditional jersey ceremony after dinner. I have been named the on-field captain for tomorrow's match. I'm nervous about the responsibility, but looking forward to the opportunity to lead the team forward. We have some great potential and I really hope we can begin to crack open our shell some more tomorrow.

Morning practice

Photo shoots after lunch

Halfbacks Claudia and Steph

Day before England match

2009-08-09T05:35:00.001-07:00

This morning we woke early for a pool recovery session. It was facilitated by our captain who fiercely told us not to give her any crap (we usually moan and groan during pool recovery led by Carrone, our strength & conditioning coach). We cooperated pretty well today through our ugly attempts at breast stroke and back stroke and other pool exercises. A hearty breakfast in the campus cafeteria followed.

The sky is dreary, but it looks to be clearing. We have a brief practice this morning and then we'll have a team meeting. This afternoon will be our final run-through before tomorrow's game.

Preparation for England match

2009-08-08T15:38:00.001-07:00

This was our last day of real preparation before the England game on Monday. The selections were announced before the morning session so that the starting 15 could work together (I'm starting at #9). The morning was pretty light - we ran through some offensive set pieces (kick offs, 22 drop outs, etc). Then we had a long break for lunch and down time, which for me included reading a non-law-related book for the first time in roughly 3 years and some much-needed napping. It began raining just as we were headed out for our afternoon session, but it didn't keep us from having another productive practice. Afterwards we had our ice baths, then showers, and now we're heading to dinner. Later we'll have a couple more meetings then off to bed. Tomorrow will be low-key.

Here's a pic of us booting up for the morning.

View from our practice field!

2009-08-07T19:16:00.001-07:00

The bar exam is over! Nations Cup has begun!

2009-08-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

The bar was last week (Tuesday and Wednesday). It was pretty horrible, but thankfully it's over now and I all can do is wait until the results come out in November.

We had our first practice this morning. It was actually quite fun and relaxed. The team is starting to come together more, but we have a lot of work to do before we take on England on Monday. It's frustrating that we have to face England so soon in the tournament because we could use a few more days to work on things. However, in the end it just comes down to us playing physical U.S. style rugby and all wanting to play our collective best.

Did I mention that it's so nice to have this extra time to write, reflect, and relax rather than study like a madwoman!?!?

Our extremely large dorm room.

Summer Gone By

2009-07-16T06:55:00.001-07:00

Hey! I was inspired by Chad and Cami's blog (legallyboundblog.blogspot.com) to add a little something to mine! I've spent all summer studying for the bar and it's been hideous. Although I must admit I did spend one week in Denver playing rugby (yay!). The US lost to Canada, but we will look for revenge in August during Nations Cup. Maybe then I will be able to post again because I will finally be a regular person (no school, no bar exam, no craziness). Later!

Recent pics of Sue and me!

2009-03-02T13:19:00.000-08:00

RETURN TO WNT

2009-03-02T13:08:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, after a long hiatus for 9 months of pregnancy and a year of breastfeeding baby Sue, I have returned to the scene of the women's national team. This weekend was a training camp for the Eagles, USA-A squad, and the U-20 squad in Orlando, FL. It was great to play with such an amazing group of people again. I felt a little awkward trying to fit myself into the new crew, but everyone was friendly and seemed willing to entertain my presence. ha! The team spirit is very good and the overall attitude is positive and exciting. World Cup 2010 - here we come!!

Taking it easy!

2007-12-21T20:05:00.000-08:00

The raging wintry stream didn't stop me from crossing to the other side!

Here are some photos of my progress...

2007-11-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

October 31 - I feel like a turtle!!

October 1

September 22

September 17

September 4

My latest adventure has been an exciting and challenging journey through pregnancy!

2007-11-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

After returning from the Chula Vista camp in April I discovered that I was pregnant! I'm due in just six more weeks - the time has gone by quickly, but it also feels like my last rugby game was a long time ago. I'm looking forward to finishing the last phase of pregnancy and anxiously awaiting our new arrival! I've been feeling good throughout the last 7 months and hope these next two go just as well. I'll post some pics soon.

Return from Chula

2007-04-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Ahh - what a fantastic few days of rugby. Although we spent quite a bit of time with the fitness and skills testing and going over some basic strategies for the new kids, we finally got to playing some real situations Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Unfortunately, I had to leave camp just before the scrimmage on Sunday in order to catch my flight back East. I was afraid the snow storm was going to cause problems, but I made it home with relatively little difficulty. The weekend has renewed my passion for the sport and my dedication to reaching my highest potential. I also got the chance to meet a fresh crowd of WNT pool players, make new friends, and catch up with others.

WNT Training Camp - Chula Vista, CA

2007-04-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Day three of four at camp. The first and second day were pretty much all fitness and skills testing. I was exhausted last night, but I'm feeling better today. This morning, we worked on tackling and defensive strategy. Later today we'll be working on offensive movements and will probably be doing some situational scrimmaging tomorrow.
There's a whole new crowd of players, which makes the dynamics of the group different of course, but everyone is working well together. It's exciting to be starting on the next run towards World Cup.
I'm off to the Olympic Training Center's gift shop!

First game of the season

2007-04-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

Well, we had some cobwebs and I tried to use the analogy that playing rugby is like riding a bike. I attempted to motivate my teammates by telling them to "Get on the seat and ride!" It didn't exactly work. I had fun playing and everyone seemed to be putting in a solid effort, but we were 15 separate people working towards our own goals. Although we had many scoring opportunities, we never really came together to seal the deal. We lost 5-7 (argh).
In other news, PSU men and women advance to the collegiate round of 16!
Also, WNT Training Camp is less than two weeks away!

Outdoor Practice

2007-03-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

Argh. Last night we (the Sirens) had our first outdoor practice of the season. It was a productive session, but it was extremely sloppy and wet. First game is this Saturday at Cornell.
I also attended another organization meeting for Capital District Youth Rugby. It's amazing how many details need to be ironed out to bring a youth rugby team into existence. Hopefully in a couple weeks teams will actually be formed and kids will start practicing!

Back from Spring Break

2007-03-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

Last week was spring break for the law school. I mostly lounged around, but I did read for school, visited my family, and worked out in preparation for the Women's National Team camp in April. Also, last Sunday I helped coach at the Siren's Women's Rugby Clinic. We had a great turnout and had lots of fun despite the hard tennis court surface. In addition, I attended a very informative Level I referee course. Hopefully it make me more aware as a player on the pitch, and it has laid the foundation for my future career as a ref...

Spring season has begun

2007-03-09T05:25:00.000-08:00

The Sirens had our first two official practices of the season this week. It's always interesting incorporating the new players...and you gotta love those indoor practices on a horribly hard surface in the middle of the night because that's the only time rugby is allowed to use the facility. Actually, we're practicing in the SUNY "Bubble" from 6:30-8:00. Not a bad time slot at all, but the surface is tennis court material! We're restricted to a tiny area of thin gymnastic mats for contact drills (which we haven't started doing yet). It's definitely better than nothing though considering our first game is in three weeks and it's doubtful the snow will be gone from our regular field by then. In any case, it's fun to be back and we have a new coach this season so the dynamics are changing a bit, but it's exciting!

Capital District Youth Rugby

2007-03-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

Now has a website!!
It's not fancy, but it's a start.
http://www.cdyouthrugby.org/index.html

Youth Rugby

2007-02-24T16:19:00.000-08:00

Because of my passion for the game of rugby I strive to recruit new players and instill in those players the same passion. A couple of weekends ago I coached at the Penn State girls' high school rugby clinic. I'm also involved in efforts here in Albany, NY to develop a youth league (Captial District Youth Rugby) for girls and boys. The league will have separate teams, divided by county, that will play each other and potentially other teams in the northeast. I'm looking forward to getting this off the ground - I think it will be a huge success!
See http://nerfu.org/index.aspx for more information on youth rugby in the Northeast Rugby Union.
See http://www.usarugby.org/ for more information on youth rugby in the United States.

Back to Reality

2007-02-13T19:41:00.000-08:00

I'm about four weeks into my second semester of law school and it's a real shock to the system. After spending an entire year working and playing rugby constantly, the return to the routine of attending classes and reading massive amounts of material is a bit of a drag. But I am excited to take on the challenge.

Return Home

2006-09-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

After a long and uneventful day of traveling I have returned to upstate NY. I'll spend today unpacking, washing clothes and putting things away. Tomorrow I'll be back at work and will practice with the Sirens in the evening. Thanks to everyone who helped to make this trip possible, all of my USA teammates and coaches, all those who helped us while we were in Edmonton and to all those who followed our journey through my blog. These are memories that will last a lifetime.
Peace, Claudia

Day of Final Match

2006-09-18T04:26:00.000-07:00

How cool to play in a gigantic stadium!! The win over Scotland was fantastic! Afterwards we had a quick social with them and then watched the last two matches. The New Zealand vs. England match was spectacular! The banquet was a frenzy of trading...
Then we finally got to celebrate at the local pub! Now it's 5:30AM and we're off to the airport - i'm exhausted.

Day before final match (against Scotland)

2006-09-16T21:39:00.000-07:00

We had a Captain's Run this morning and then we raced over to Ellerslie Rugby Park to watch South Africa play Kazakhstan (0-36). It rained and drizzled for most of the match and South Africa struggled, but played hard until the final whistle. I spent most of the afternoon packing because we won't have much time tomorrow. Then I took a nap before the forwards meeting. We had our last team dinner in the hotel, the last jersey ceremony and then we had a special meeting to celebrate and acknowledge our coaches, staff, volunteers, captains and our four non-rostered reserve players. I can't believe our trip is almost over. However, we still have one very important task at hand. We are determined to come home 4 and 1.

Practice and Supporter Dinner

2006-09-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

We had a full day of practice today. A session in the morning with rain pouring down and then another session in drizzle this afternoon. It was pretty gross and cold, but we managed to stay focused and positive. We worked on blowing out the opponents in rucks and organizing everyone on multiple phase play (on offense and defense). Tonight there was a dinner to honor the financial donors and other supporters of the Women Eagles. It always nice to see the faces of those who are backing us and I'm sure they appreciate being recognized.

Dinner with South Africa

2006-09-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a magical and amazing rugby social with the South African team. The South African women made a delicious dinner while we provided some entertainment with a game that involved climbing along your partner's body to place a bottle as far out as possible without touching the ground. After we cleaned the dishes and helped to clear away the tables we played more games (chicken in the hen house) and had a dance-off! Then were enhanted by South African song and dance. Sharing cultures and experiences with rugby players from all over the world is certainly an important aspect of this international event that I will never forget.

Earlier today we had a video session and I spent time shopping downtown. Now it's late and I'm exhausted and heading for bed.

Day off - various activities

2006-09-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

Today was a rest day, but we didn’t have much free time. This morning half of us (me included) visited Bellerose High School where our liaison, Liam, works. We were guests for one of the gym classes (about 50 boys and girls). Pam and Kelly represented the team by talking about the sacrifices we have made to be at World Cup. Then we took the kids outside and led them through some warm-up drills and a circuit of different rugby skills. I had a good time instructing and encouraging them – maybe I’ll be a coach some day…The other half of the team did basically the same thing at a different high school. After lunch we had our pool recovery and then half of us went to a local park where Jen Doan took individual portrait shots of each of us. The other half will go tomorrow. I’m glad I went today because it’s getting colder by the minute. Almost literally! Tonight the temperature dropped three degrees during dinner (11°c – 9°c). There’s a chance of snow for tonight. Tomorrow is another day off – I think I’ll go shopping downtown near the University.

Day of (second) Australia match

2006-09-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Yeah!!!!! We won!!!! And it feels great! Not only did we get the win, but we played well together and had a few superb moments of rugby. I had a wonderful time being out on the field. I made some mistakes and the team had some lapses in concentration, but we have one more game to throw absolutely everything out there and play to the full potential of this team. Scotland narrowly beat Ireland today so we'll play Scotland on Sunday in Commonwealth Stadium. That should be really cool. Tomorrow we have most of the day off, but we're going in two groups to two separate high schools to teach rugby. Not quite as interesting as our prison experience, but it should be a good time.

Sadly, my biggest fan leaves early tomorrow morning: Thanks for all your support, Ryan!!

Day Before (second) Australia match

2006-09-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

We had an easy morning with just one backs meeting and time to do our laundry. Then we all piled into vans for the long drive out to St. Alberts for our Captains Run. Unbeknownst to us something else had been planned - bowling!! Our manager, KTP, totally tricked us into thinking we were on our way to the field and I was completely surprised. We all know the plays and know what we're doing so we don't need a Captain's Run, but it was still a little strange to be bowling instead of running around the pitch. Later we had the Jersey Ceremony and a powerful team meeting to release some tension. I'm prepared to honor my teammates and my country with the best game I can bring when I step onto the field tomorrow.

Preparing to play Australia, Again

2006-09-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

I had a bit of time this morning to catch up on my emails, update my blog and upload photos. We departed for our practice field around 11:30, got lunch on the way and then watched our match against Australia while our food digested. Hopefully we will not be making the same mistakes – how often do you get the chance for a do-over? I plan to take full advantage of the opportunity to clean up my errors and give Australia an even better game. We had a fairly long practice designed to focus on our offensive recognition (seeing where and how to attack). Afterwards, we headed over to Sue and Wes’s house for another delightful evening of food and fun. We got to pet the neighbor’s horses; we smashed a piñata; and after a demonstration and brief instructions by Sue some tried their hand at hatchet throwing. Phaidra attempted to throw me in the pool, but I was too wily for her and instead she and Carter ended up soaked! The grand finale was watching Wes taking some of the sled dogs out on a training run.

FREE Day!!

2006-09-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

After a pool recovery on Saturday morning, we had the entire rest of the day free! I took the time to visit nearby Elk Island National Park. There were a ton of buffalo and various other wildlife, but I didn't see any elk or moose. Some of the other players went to the mall for movies and just hanging out, others went to play golf. I watched PSU and JoePa fall to Notre Dame; Ohio beat Texas; and Maria Sharapova win the Women's US Open (Ham is not impressed with my lack of productivity for the day). We gave Shouse a send-off before heading to bed.

Day of Australia Match

2006-09-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

We started the day with a backs' meeting right after breakfast to fine tune the offensive and defensive play calling. After that it was the dreaded waiting game. I sat around and listened to music and played Sudoku. Once it was time to leave we piled into the vans for the nearly 45 minute drive to the pitch. We had our individual and team warmup and then our team run-through. I was feeling a lot less nervous than before the England match, but still really excited and ready to go. We came out strong in the first half with two tries. Australia made two penalty kicks so the score at halftime was 10-6 and that's how it would end. We played a lot of defense in the second half in our end of the field (despite a strong wind at our backs...) with one huge goal line stand. It was then that I felt our pride and determination the most, but we still didn't put everything together. The win was bittersweet - because we didn't score more points or get the bonus point (for 4 tries) we are now ranked 6th. We will play Australia (ranked 7th) again on the 12th. We returned to the hotel feeling disappointed even with the win (which is a strange feeling). We had dinner and then my birthday cake! Tomorrow we have almost the entire day free.

Day Before Australia match

2006-09-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

This morning we had lineout practice and kicking practice for our kickers (I worked on my box kicks). Afterwards, a few of us made a trip to the coin laudromat because our clothes were getting pretty ripe. Our training gear (jerseys, socks, shorts) is washed by the tournament people, but we're responsible for the rest of our stuff. After lunch we had our Captain's Run at the field where our game will be tomorrow, St. Albert's Rugby Club. This is a different location from our last two games. The fields and facilities were really nice. We had a huge, delicious turkey dinner tonight and then we played "Who's Line is it Anyway?" The coaches acted out a hilarious dating game skit. Finally, we had the Jersey Ceremony - Kathy read all the good wishes that have been posted on the womeneagles.com web site. It's hard to deal with the high expectations and remember to focus on the things that we can control. My mantra for tomorrow: Fire in my heart, ice in my veins.

Another day of preparation

2006-09-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

Today was quite long and tiring. This morning we had a video session to solidify our team strategy for the Australia match. A small luxury was that we got to go "out" for lunch today, which involved all of us swamping two small lunch joints (one being a Subway). After lunch, we had a grueling 2.5 hour practice session to work on scrums, lineouts and team play. We came back to the hotel for ice baths, a tasty dinner and the backs working on their comedy acts. Now we're playing card games and relaxing as a team. We all know how important it will be for us to have an outstanding game on Friday, but we're trying not to get too nervous so we're able to play our game and have fun!

Prison Break

2006-09-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

This morning we had a brief, but intense practice to continue molding and improving our style of play. Then we had a very unique experience. We traveled to the Edmonton Youth Offender Center to play rugby with some of the residents. Our team liaison, Sue, is a teacher at the Center. There were a few girls, but most were boys. We gave them a short demo and then invited volunteers to run passing drills with us. We also invited them to participate in scrums and lineouts. I think those that joined us had a good time and I hope that we gave them all a glimpse of how positive it can feel to be part of a team. When we returned to the hotel we watched the video of yesterday’s game against Ireland and then were given off the rest of the day. I ended the evening having an enjoyable dinner with my family.

Day of Ireland match

2006-09-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well...we beat Ireland today and secured a bonus point in the standings by scoring four tries. However, the game was a bit of a let-down because we didn't play to our full potential. We seemed to be flat mentally and physically. I wonder if the pressure to score stifled our ability to play creatively and aggressively. We're in another tough position for Friday's game - we need to have a gigantic win against Australia to have a shot at making it into the final four. We'll start bright and early tomorrow morning with preparations for that game.
After our match, we stayed to watch England v. South Africa (74-8) and France v. Australia (24-10). We all enjoyed the chance to spend some time hanging out with our fans.

Day before Ireland match

2006-09-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

Today was pretty low-key. We had a Captain’s Run at 1:00 this afternoon and it was already hot. The team was looking crisp and working well together. As a substitute on the roster for this game, I did my best to run smart, aggressive defense against the starting lineup to help them get as prepared as possible. Tonight we had our second Jersey Ceremony. Once again, there were plenty of family and friends (lots of NY girls!) showing their support. Tomorrow’s game is at noon so we’ll have less down-time in the morning, which I think will be good for us. Send us your positive vibes – we need a big win!!

Improvement and Fun!

2006-09-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

The game of rugby is so great because there’s always something new to learn, or a new technique to master, or something to improve upon. As expected, we worked hard today to clean up our mistakes from Thursday and to add a few new tidbits to our game. We finished around 4:00PM, showered at the Druid Rugby Clubhouse where we were practicing and then proceeded directly to the home of one of our team liaisons (Sue) for a fantastic BBQ dinner. It was really quite spectacular – our family and friends were invited, there was a ton of food and drinks, and there was plenty of fun to be had by all. Sue’s nieces and nephews were playing on a slip-n-slide and after only a few minutes of hesitation a bunch of us joined in the action! Most of us took time to change into our bathing suits, while a few went in their jeans and T-shirts! Sue and her partner, Wes, who together raise sled dogs, led us on a walk around their impressive property while the dogs ran jumping and playing alongside us. It was such a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere – it felt like we were one huge family.

Recovery Day

2006-09-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

This morning we had a pool recovery session to work out some of the aches and pains in our muscles. Later in the morning, we had a meeting to evaluate the England match by both illuminating our strengths and hashing out our weaknesses. After lunch, we had the majority of the afternoon to enjoy a bit of Edmonton. I spent the time with a few friends and some family checking out a botanical garden and testing out a downtown café. It was really nice to get out of the hotel and relax for a couple of hours. Then it was time to get back to business. We watched the video from yesterday’s game and made final comments. These were final in that we need to look forward now to Ireland and rid ourselves of the distaste of yesterday’s loss. Before ending the evening we had initial discussions for our game plan against Ireland. Now I need to get some sleep because tomorrow promises to be a tough day of practicing.

Day of England Match

2006-08-31T21:12:00.000-07:00

We had a long day of waiting around, but finally game time approached. We had a pretty good run-through before the game and people were feeling excited and pumped to get out on the pitch. I know I was very nervous (c'mon - you would be too if you were representing your country!) and I'm sure my teammates were, too. We had a solid first half and were able to keep England out of our try zone. We played well in the second half also, but England was able to punch it through a try and couple of penalty kicks and then one more try in the last few moments. I'm proud of our team, but terribly disappointed with the outcome. We will go over game video tomorrow so I'll get a better idea of the things that need the most improvement. I'm looking forward to our next match.

Day before England match

2006-08-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

We had a flurry of meetings today and in the evening we had a “Captain’s Run” (just the players, no coaches) at the pitch where we’ll be playing tomorrow. Things weren’t exactly smooth at the beginning, but we worked out some errors, pulled together as a team and were feeling confident by the time we walked off the field.

Tonight we had a very special jersey ceremony to present the jerseys to the 22 rostered players. Emotions were running high, especially after we sang a powerful rendition of the National Anthem in front of a gathering of our family and friends. It feels great to finally have a game! First game of the 2006 World Cup!

Save the Best for Last

2006-08-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

Well, we are the last to arrive, but we are finally here, safe and sound. After a long, excruciating day of navigating our way through the airport check-in, security lines, customs, and baggage claim...
Then, to make my day a little worse, the Internet connection in my room is not working so I have resorted to the business center in the lobby. Argh. Oh well, I shouldn't complain. The hotel is nice, the rooms are clean and comfortable (but tiny) and the food is tasty. We also had a brief practice today to cover our restarts (mostly kickoff's and 22 drops). We were feeling sluggish and high-strung at the same time. With a full day of traveling it's not surprising that we were a little off, but we need to be at the top of our game by Thursday. I'm confident we can get there.
I think I'll head to bed early this evening - I believe that getting a good night's sleep two nights before the match is very important. Less than 48 hours to go!!!

Day of Rest

2006-08-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

It wasn't a Sunday, but we didn't have a single minute of training today. It was actually quite strange, but fortunate at the same time because the weather was lousy today (rain for most of the morning). I don't feel tired at all yet, but I know I need to save my energy and the experienced players advise us to take advantage of the rest while we have it. I was able to sleep in this morning, get a nice breakfast and then I made my way over to the MOA to do some browsing in the shops. While there, I also took a ride (we each got a ticket compliments of Jane T.) on one of the indoor roller coasters! I spent the afternoon lounging around, napping, doing laundry, swimming in the pool and eating. =) This evening we had a send-off dinner at a nearby restaurant and then we stopped at DQ for an ice cream treat. Now, we're all scurrying around packing our things - we depart tomorrow morning for Edmonton. According to the WRWC web site, we'll be the last team to arrive in Edmonton.

Dinner at Majors

Dairy Queen(s)

Sunday's a Rugby Day

2006-08-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

We started out the day with a light warmup and then jumped right into unit work. The forwards ironed out some more things with lineouts and scrums while the backs continued to work on quicker decision-making and running the ball. We broke around 10:30 for "brunch" consisting of bagels and fruit before being joined by various Midwest players that graciously gave their time to provide us outside opposition. First we ran through some controlled set pieces (scrums/lineouts/back plays) and then we scrimmaged for about 45 minutes. It was really good for us (despite the midwest players having the advantage of a few extra players on their side!) and I felt that things were clicking well between all the U.S. players. We still have things to tweak, but we're in good spirits. Afterwards, everyone gathered at Jane T.'s house for a fun, delicious picnic dinner. To end the evening, we ventured out to the Mall of America to catch the movie Invincible at the theater. We thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment!

Just before scrimmage

Fun at the MOA (Mall of America)