Forget training, Wallabies go bowling
Robbie Deans has surprised the Wallabies by giving them a rare Monday off training as they near the end of their exhausting six-match tour.
When they assembled in chilly Cardiff for their weekly recovery session, Deans took his men tenpin bowling instead - a reward for three wins on the trot.
Better than a sneaky sickie, the Wallabies were chuffed to have escaped the arctic winds and head for the warmth of the nearest alley, even if hooker Stephen Moore was putting on a brave front after being one of only four players in the 34-strong squad to have started all five Tests so far on tour.
"To be honest, I think I feel better this Monday than I did last Monday so I think I'm sort of over that soreness now," Moore said.
"You do get used to playing week to week. It's obviously tougher than Super 14 but I'm getting into that pattern now of playing and enjoying it.
"You just need to use the early days of the week really well to recover. By Thursday, you're feeling really ready to play again.
"We get that day off on Wednesday (each week) when you can iron out any bumps and bruises and get ready to go again."
Deans will name his team to play Wales on Tuesday and is juggling a desire to give some of his fringe players a start with the need to field a line-up strong enough to beat the Six Nations rugby champions at Millennium Stadium.
"I hope everyone gets some time because they've all worked hard and they'd all desperately like it obviously," Deans said.
"The good thing is, they're all putting in and what we achieve on Saturday is a reflection of what we do through the week and we're only as good as the tail end of the group.
"When I say tail end, in terms of by the high numbers. We don't consider them tail end as people and what they offer us.
"So we hope to (give everyone a run on tour). But there's no guarantees."
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