Seat on bench makes life tough

You have to prepare like all of the starting team, because you may have to go on after five minutes. You share the excitement of the win but there is something missing inside because you feel you haven't played your part in full.

For most of the lads on the bench out here it is even harder. Every one is a top Premiership player and very few are used to sitting out matches. To get to the top they all have to be winners and will have focused for years on getting to play at a World Cup.

The role of this group is vital to the team though. If we were to mope around and sulk at not being involved, it could make life awkward for the whole group.

I remember watching a British Lions video of their successful tour to South Africa. They said from the start of the tour that it was the responsibility of the players not involved to congratulate those playing and help them at all times.

I thought that was brilliant and it is something I have tried to take on board out here. Of course, I want to play and prove myself on this stage. But if I was playing I would want the reserves to be giving everything in training against me, so that I was being tested all the time.

If the standard of training dropped it would affect the team and that would be bad news.

Training the day after the matches is probably the hardest time. This is when those who haven't played have to do their physical training. I'm pleased to say that the boys have approached this in a brilliant manner.

Even though all the boys would be a bit low at missing out on the high of playing in the match the previous night, we know we have to keep our fitness levels up and these sessions have been flat out.

It would be understandable if players were starting to get on each other's nerves a bit by this stage. I can honestly say, though, that the spirit amongst the lads is getting better and better.

Getting good results helps a great deal but, nevertheless, there is great camaraderie among both the players and staff on this trip.

One of the noticeable things is that the younger players seem relaxed enough to give the older players a bit of stick and it is great that they feel comfortable enough to do that. We will need every player, young, old, in the team, or not, pulling together as we approach the latter stages of this competition.