Mikie Linch Trip Report May 7 2007

It was interesting to drive on the wrong side of the road for the 1st time but by the end of our drive I was kind of getting used to it. The scenery as we drove was amazing, everything was green and there were no big buildings or traffic jams or anything like that. Everything seemed to be just so fresh.

Once we got to Roy's, and pretty much for the whole week I stayed there, Roy drove me and Mike around town showing us everything from were he used to live, to the local mall, to Waikato Stadium were the Chiefs play. Waikato Stadium was probably the coolest place we went considering we met some of the Chiefs players and All Black, Marty Holah. Also while we were at the stadium we met Warren Gatlin (Chiefs Coach).

Everyone in the city seemed to be really nice and everyone Roy introduced us to was more than willing to give us advice on the Kiwi way of life and how to survive boarding.

We attended Rugby practice the first day we were here and all the guys were surprisingly nice. Most of them came up to us before practice and introduced themselves to us. I think we both did pretty well for not really knowing the drills and having to learn all the calls on the fly.

We talked to the coach after and he said that he was going to try to get us on in the last 10-15 min. of the game to get a look at us. I thought then that there's 2 guys ahead of me that are really experienced and athletic. They're 2 big ol' Maori boys that are strong and fast. But one of them normally plays 8-man but they moved him to prop so there's a possibility if I catch on that they'll move me to prop and him back to #8.

At the end of practice it was funny 'cause the coaches were talking about how they were yelling at us and I was thinking "if you guys want to see some real yelling come down to the States and go to a football practice". Over all I think practice went pretty good. All the guys and coaches were nice and interested in mine and Mike's background.

We didn't go to the next practice because we had to go out shopping for our school uniforms and jet lag caught up to us.

The total from the uniform place was $2085 but that's with my extra pair of shorts track pants and blazer that I haven't gotten yet so they only charged $1674 New Zealand money. They didn't have the track pants, blazer or extra shorts in my size so I had to pick them up Monday before school started. This was way more than we had planned as they didn't have anything second hand in my size!.

I've attached a picture of me and Mike in our school uniforms with another guy (in the middle) from the U.S. who's over here on a soccer exchange.

Life was pretty calm until Saturday when we mostly watched the 1st XV play (Mike got 10 minutes at wing), then we went to see the Chiefs play against the Sharks. Roy's son lent us a couple of jerseys so we didn't look like total outsiders at the game.

The atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable. It was probably the largest gathering of rugby enthusiasts I've ever been around. We were able to go down on the field and walk around on the field for a little bit and all the players came out to sign autographs. I wish I would have known this before, 'cause then I would have brought stuff for them to sign. This was the highlight of my trip so far.

After the game focus changed to school and getting everything ready for that.

We left for the boarding houses on Monday night (I'm in Sargood house). The first night was kind of nerve raking and overwhelming. I don't think I've ever been introduced to more guys in one night then I was in that night. But it was nice all the guys were asking questions about the U.S. and wondering why I came, and how good at rugby I was, and anything else they could think of to ask me.

But overall the first night in the house went pretty good. The next morning I was introduced to the morning routine; wake up, (morning runs on Tuesday and Thursday), shower, roll call, assembly and then finally school.

The classes out here seem to be about at the same level as they are back home, maybe a little less detailed in what they learn but the organization in regards to notes and class work is way better than back home.

It's really cool how the schools breaks and lunches are set up because they give you a lot of time to go back to the houses and relax with the guys. But school hasn't been too exciting, same old stuff as back home pretty much.

But after school it is completely different. Instead of going home after school its rugby practice and the rugby practices here are awesome. I've never experienced having 22 players at every single practice, and to have the practices be so organized.

I was brought down to the 2nd XV team in the 1st week, but that was expected (because I wasn't as fit as I would have liked - due to my broken foot) and I like it there, even though I mostly hang out with the first team guys.

Instead of being the understudy to the 1st XV star players I'm probably one of the best forwards on the 2nd XV. I believe though once I get my conditioning up and fix some flaws with my scrumming I will be brought back up to the 1st XV and get a decent amount of playing time.

The first game for the 2nd XV was against Taumarunui College, 3 hours away from St. Paul's. The drive gave me a lot of time to look at the landscape of New Zealand. It was better then any picture or person could describe it. The hills and trees are just something you have to see for yourself to appreciate them. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a 3 hour drive as much as I did that one. The only bad thing was that we had to miss the Chiefs vs. Crusaders game (on TV).

We arrived at the field and the rain started to come down, it wasn't too bad, but enough to make the ball slippery. I faced probably the best prop I've ever played against. My coach told me before the game that I was in for a battle because the opposing prop was the team Captain and will probably be challenging for a representative position for New Zealand U19 this year.

I think I held my own for most the game. He beat me on the 1st few scrums but I was able to use my strength and some decent technique to win a few myself.

I came out after the 1st half because my foot was bothering me and the coach wanted to get other players on the field. We lost the game 30-7, but it was an amazing experience to play with guys who had been playing the game almost since they were born.

The second week of school was about as exciting as the first. Mike and I however were put into the schools newly made drama class and were told that we had to perform on Friday of that week. So in one week we had to learn our lines and what we had to do for the play.

The play turned out to be really good, we were doing Macbeth and we took 2nd in the competition we were in. It was an interesting experience to be in a play in a different country. I enjoyed it though; it was a lot of fun.

The next day was the 2nd team's first home game of the season, against Te Awamutu College. I think I played a pretty good game even though we lost 31-5. The final score doesn't show how close the game was. The score was 17-5 with only 3 minutes left, but they scored off two back to back breakaways. I think I played probably one of the best defensive games of my life and my scrummaging has improved so much in only 2 weeks.

I was able to play the whole game but probably should have been taken out the last 10-15 minutes of the game (I wasn't the reason they scored the 2 trys at the end of the game though). We played a really good defensive game but we couldn't hold on to the ball, it's hard to win a game when you can't hold on to the ball.

One good thing about this game is that the team that we just played beat the team we're playing next week 86-0 (and no that's not a typo they really beat them 86-0) so next week looks promising.

As a whole so far everybody I've met has been really nice, asking if I needed anything and how I was enjoying their country.

Well that's most of everything that's happened so far. Thanks to everyone that helped us get here.

Mikie

Mikie Linch