Europe Diary Day 13 - Practice with Leinster 19 November, 2009 The Flying Fijians had a practice match this morning with Leinster, head coach Glen Ella wanting the boys to go through their set pieces in actual game situations. It turned out to be a very fruitful session the players and the coaches gaining a lot out of the game.

“These sessions when we’re working in actual game situations against another team are worth three or four normal training sessions,” Ella said.

Timoci Naqusa joined camp late in the afternoon and seems to have fitted in well with the boys. Apolosi Satala led devotion in the evening as he told the moving story of a blind mother and her unforgiving son – I wonder how many of us fit into that category.

Rotuman link - Sean Og O hAilpin and Graham Dewes

Tomorrow the boys will meet a gentleman by the name of Seán Óg Ó hAilpín who just so happens to be one of Ireland’s greatest sportsmen as he plays both hurling and gaelic football (note that rugby is not even in the top three most popular sports in Ireland, lying a distant fourth behind hurling, gaelic football and soccer). However what is so interesting about this chappy Sean Othingymajig is that he’s actually part Fijian, his mother hailing from the beautiful islands of Rotuma.

If you’re by a computer try googling his name. This chap is quite the phenomenon in Ireland.

Well the weather here in Ireland as I write seems to have taken a distinct turn for the worse, it’s currently pouring down with rain and quite windy too – I’ve got three layers of clothes on and I’m still freezing!

While the players more or less had the afternoon session off today, tomorrow is another full day and the last day players will have a chance to push for a Test spot, with the team to play Ireland to be named on Thursday afternoon (Friday morning Fiji time).

Take care all. Moce mada.