Tales from the Members' Bar

Volume 2 No 5 James Downey

James Downey greeted me like an old friend. His domestic arrangements have changed this year. Damo is in the south of France and Wardy has gone to Sale. I wonder if he used his contacts here in finding somewhere to live.

I have had it first-hand from his new house-mate that Neil Starling is fit and back in training. Starlo being fit and available is good news. The ill-luck that bedevils our No 13 shirt had just struck Joe Ansbro. His thumb was damaged in training. Thinking back to the amateur days, I just wonder if the triskaidekaphobia that led to the Bath full-back wearing 16 had something to it after all.

It seems that not since Peter Jorgensen was a Franklins favourite has there been anything like a consistent occupant of the outside centre berth. A good run seems to be about ten games before an operation.

We reported here on Neil Best's living arrangements at the start of the season. The imminent arrival of a fiancée meant that Roger Wilson was about to become homeless. He has now pitched up to share with Seamus and Starlo.

The good news is that they can all cook and, thankfully, there are no awful bad habits to report unless they are James's (note to self: be sure to ask this question should Wilson or Starling pass this way). Nils Mordt is an occasional visitor and pitches in with kitchen duties.

It has been a feature of these interviews that, quite often, the guys who compete most directly with one another for the same starting position are firm friends away from the rugby pitch. To be on the safe side I reminded James of the old adage, "The one without the parsley is the one without the poison."

As we watched place kicking practice in front of the South Stand, I enquired as to young Myler's credentials as a starting inside centre. "Nah! He's a ten. That's what I keep telling him anyway." And yourself, Seamus?

The whole squad is pleased with the progress in the EDF. Having been to finals day last season, it is an experience they would quite like to repeat. Nobody but nobody is taking this competition anything but seriously.

In reviewing the season so far and the mismatch between the home and away records, it seems that Franklins Gardens is once again becoming a bit of a fortress. Long may it continue. Everyone looks forward to the match day atmosphere and the volume of noise the crowd makes. Yes, it is a cliché but the supporters really are the sixteenth man.

Bearing in mind that James had been off the field quite a bit in recent games, I enquired after his physical fitness. Were the problems related? It turns out that he has been expanding his collection of stitches. With fourteen sutures as a souvenir of the Mediterranean and a further dozen against Montpellier he is keeping up a good average against French opposition - he already bears a scar containing another twelve or so from an encounter with Clermont. Expect the headgear to be in evidence for the next few weeks at least.

I did not ask James to delve into the shopping trolley for a third choice of biscuit but discovered that when it comes to Marmite (or Vegemite), he hates it.

For his bite-sized coaching tip, he chose a modern-day take on an old favourite. Perfect practice makes perfect!

arw

3.11.2008

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