Captains report : ISB 21-14 Zimbabwe U19.
'Bahati ikipiga hodi ni lazima ufungue mlango mwenyewe' - 'When good fortune knocks you have to open the door yourself'.
Firstly apologies for the delay in the production of this report, perhaps the most important of the tour. As I'm sure you can understand the last couple of days have been hectic to say the least; back-to-back games followed by a 25 hour journey home (with a little celebrating in-between) have been enjoyed with little sleep. I am writing this as we take off from Nairobi airport with 'only' eight hours or so of travelling left! (Just for the record, if possible avoid extended stays at Kenya's premier airport - not comfortable in any way whatsoever).
Back to the game...
The focus of the week had been building up to Wednesday, frequently referred to as 'the big one'. We had been talking all week about maintaining the ISB's magnificent 100% record against national sides and for this one the focus was all upon the result. The beginning of the match was certainly a new and tremendous experience for all of us. Leaving the changing rooms to the sound of bagpipes we proceeded to line up on the 15-meter line, facing the stands (yes, exactly like the television!!). Ready and prepared to belt out our national anthem for the whole of Zimbabwe to hear it would have helped if we had begun singing sometime during the first verse... However once we got going I'm sure even the Queen herself would have been proud. Having listened to the Zimbabwean attempt at singing the skippers big moment of leading the minister for Sport down his line of lads also went (for want of a better phrase) 'tits up'. Mind completely blank, my attempts to name each squad member were horrible... I'm sure that the minister was amazed at how many 'Toms' we had brought over with us. However within the first five seconds of kick-off things were to somehow get worse...
The first ISB hit of the game was a big one, living up to all the pre-match hype of 'big hits for the big match'. Unfortunately for Hartley and the ISB as a whole, it came without the attempt to use any arms AND roughly a century after the ball had been passed. Out came a flash of yellow from the referee's pocket and off Hartley trooped to have a ten-minute of a recovery after his major exertions.
This early setback however only seemed to spur the ISB on to greater things. At no point during those first ten minutes did the numbers appear unequal. Indeed composure by the whole side meant that it was the fourteen men in bright pink who had the first points-scoring opportunity. Poulton pointed to the posts and Jewers duly sent the ball flying in the right direction.
ISB 3-0 Zimbabwe U19.
A clean take at the restart and some more decent play frustrated the pent-up hosts and as Hartley wandered back onto the park having served his time a Zimbabwean back-rower lost his cool dropping his shoulder in late to receive the same fate as Hartley had done previously (maybe he was tired as well?). With the numerical advantage the tourists looked to open up their game, however even though they were a man down the Zimbabweans spent the next ten minutes on the front foot. Playing direct and physical rugby the national side looked dangerous. However it was an unnecessary ISB indiscretion, early engagement at the scrummage, which allowed the 'Young Sables' to spin the ball wide where a miscommunication in the ISB defence left the Zimbabwean winger one-on-one with the fullback Allen. A chip over the top was followed by the little Zimbabwean demonstrating his sheer pace to gather and dot down in the corner. A tricky conversion from the sideline failed to make the required distance.
ISB 3-5 Zimbabwe U19.
The rest of the first half is pretty much all a blur to me. I can recall Allen enjoying a strong first period at fullback including one outrageous double sidestep as well as the ISB pack beginning to exert more dominance as the game wore on. Harries, Hearn and Precious formed an efficient back-row as usual and Bliss demonstrated why he is one of the best scrum-halves around. Eventually the ISB won a penalty during the last play before the half-time oranges and with Jewers fancying his chances, Poulton again indicated a kick at goal. A strong swing of the boot with the ball squeezing just inside the near upright gave the tourists the lead at half time.
ISB 6-5 Zimbabwe U19.
The ISB tradition of a weak start to the second half continued with some indiscipline coupled with strong Zimbabwean running from the likes of the Zimbabwean Man of the Match Joshua Smallbones ensured that the man in middle raised his arm twice and twice the ISB posts were dissected.
ISB 6-11 Zimbabwe U19.
This was not a game, however, that the tourists were happy to lose but with Zimbabwe camped in the ISB 22 the men in pink felt like they had a mountain to climb. Heroic defence by numbers 1 through to 15 pushed the Zimbabweans out into touch on the ISB 5-meter line. This was where the big units had to stand up and be counted. The throw from Brown was strong and Tokeley did what he does best, getting up at the front of the line out in front of his man and setting up the rolling maul. The entire pack piled in (Higgins playing on the wing informs me that even he had a go) and on went the maul. Zimbabwe were penalised for pulling it down and the ball was kicked out to give the ISB the opportunity to repeat the process. On this occasion the maul travelled fully 25 meters before again being illegally pulled down by the Zimbabwean pack. When two minutes later the tourists were given the opportunity to set up one more maul close to the hosts' line the pack performed yet again with Man of the Match and recipient of my Captain's award for the tour Harries grounding the ball. This time Jewers couldn't repeat his kicking magic sending the ball wide and short.
ISB 14-11 Zimbabwe U19.
The game still had twenty minutes to play and Zimbabwe struck back almost immediately. A technical infringement meant that the ISB coughed up another kickable straight-arm penalty with the resultant three points levelling the scores.
ISB 14-14 Zimbabwe U19.
With the match delicately poised the ISB took the initiative. A wonderful restart by Jewers allowed the tourists to regather possession and when a penalty was nudged into the corner the entire ground expected the precise and powerful ISB maul to launch into action. On this occasion however a mix-up resulted in the sharp Bliss shipping the ball out to Huxtable with a wonderful combination of running lines from both centres Watters and Jewers releasing Wilcockson who palmed off the Zimbabwean fly half with ease to storm over under the posts. Conversion slotted the ISB found themselves in the ascendency with ten minutes to go.
ISB 21-14 Zimbabwe U19.
I say ten minutes, but to us out there on the park it felt like an eternity. The Zimbabweans attacked and attacked running hard and direct and completely pinning us down in our 22. Numerous penalties were given away but with the Hosts requiring a converted try to tie the score the waves of attacks kept on coming. Some of best tackling and scramble defence I have ever been a part of kept the marauding Zimbabweans at bay. Eventually the pressure became too much and after ten minutes of constant defence the men in pink forced the much vaunted Zimbabwean number eight to panic and knock on. A solid scrum and pick up from eight gave Bliss the opportunity to lump the ball off the field and begin scenes of tremendous jubilation.
Full Time : ISB 21-14 Zimbabwe U19.
The roller-coaster of emotions felt throughout that game is one which will stay with me for the rest of my life. Nervousness, fear, anger, pride, excitement, confusion and finally jubilation; this was test-match rugby at its finest. The whole squad should be exhilarated and tremendously proud at having produced an international victory. Lastly it should be mentioned that taking on the Zimbabwean side is without doubt the toughest international fixture the ISB has played and I know that I am, hopefully the rest of the lads are as well, delighted and full of pride having kept up the ISB 100% record against national sides.
'Bahati ikipiga hodi ni lazima ufungue mlango mwenyewe' - 'When good fortune knocks you have to open the door yourself'.
Yours in rugby,
Poults.
'Bahati ikipiga hodi ni lazima ufungue mlango mwenyewe' - 'When good fortune knocks you have to open the door yourself'.
Firstly apologies for the delay in the production of this report, perhaps the most important of the tour. As I'm sure you can understand the last couple of days have been hectic to say the least; back-to-back games followed by a 25 hour journey home (with a little celebrating in-between) have been enjoyed with little sleep. I am writing this as we take off from Nairobi airport with 'only' eight hours or so of travelling left! (Just for the record, if possible avoid extended stays at Kenya's premier airport - not comfortable in any way whatsoever).
Back to the game...
The focus of the week had been building up to Wednesday, frequently referred to as 'the big one'. We had been talking all week about maintaining the ISB's magnificent 100% record against national sides and for this one the focus was all upon the result. The beginning of the match was certainly a new and tremendous experience for all of us. Leaving the changing rooms to the sound of bagpipes we proceeded to line up on the 15-meter line, facing the stands (yes, exactly like the television!!). Ready and prepared to belt out our national anthem for the whole of Zimbabwe to hear it would have helped if we had begun singing sometime during the first verse... However once we got going I'm sure even the Queen herself would have been proud. Having listened to the Zimbabwean attempt at singing the skippers big moment of leading the minister for Sport down his line of lads also went (for want of a better phrase) 'tits up'. Mind completely blank, my attempts to name each squad member were horrible... I'm sure that the minister was amazed at how many 'Toms' we had brought over with us. However within the first five seconds of kick-off things were to somehow get worse...
The first ISB hit of the game was a big one, living up to all the pre-match hype of 'big hits for the big match'. Unfortunately for Hartley and the ISB as a whole, it came without the attempt to use any arms AND roughly a century after the ball had been passed. Out came a flash of yellow from the referee's pocket and off Hartley trooped to have a ten-minute of a recovery after his major exertions.
This early setback however only seemed to spur the ISB on to greater things. At no point during those first ten minutes did the numbers appear unequal. Indeed composure by the whole side meant that it was the fourteen men in bright pink who had the first points-scoring opportunity. Poulton pointed to the posts and Jewers duly sent the ball flying in the right direction.
ISB 3-0 Zimbabwe U19.
A clean take at the restart and some more decent play frustrated the pent-up hosts and as Hartley wandered back onto the park having served his time a Zimbabwean back-rower lost his cool dropping his shoulder in late to receive the same fate as Hartley had done previously (maybe he was tired as well?). With the numerical advantage the tourists looked to open up their game, however even though they were a man down the Zimbabweans spent the next ten minutes on the front foot. Playing direct and physical rugby the national side looked dangerous. However it was an unnecessary ISB indiscretion, early engagement at the scrummage, which allowed the 'Young Sables' to spin the ball wide where a miscommunication in the ISB defence left the Zimbabwean winger one-on-one with the fullback Allen. A chip over the top was followed by the little Zimbabwean demonstrating his sheer pace to gather and dot down in the corner. A tricky conversion from the sideline failed to make the required distance.
ISB 3-5 Zimbabwe U19.
The rest of the first half is pretty much all a blur to me. I can recall Allen enjoying a strong first period at fullback including one outrageous double sidestep as well as the ISB pack beginning to exert more dominance as the game wore on. Harries, Hearn and Precious formed an efficient back-row as usual and Bliss demonstrated why he is one of the best scrum-halves around. Eventually the ISB won a penalty during the last play before the half-time oranges and with Jewers fancying his chances, Poulton again indicated a kick at goal. A strong swing of the boot with the ball squeezing just inside the near upright gave the tourists the lead at half time.
ISB 6-5 Zimbabwe U19.
The ISB tradition of a weak start to the second half continued with some indiscipline coupled with strong Zimbabwean running from the likes of the Zimbabwean Man of the Match Joshua Smallbones ensured that the man in middle raised his arm twice and twice the ISB posts were dissected.
ISB 6-11 Zimbabwe U19.
This was not a game, however, that the tourists were happy to lose but with Zimbabwe camped in the ISB 22 the men in pink felt like they had a mountain to climb. Heroic defence by numbers 1 through to 15 pushed the Zimbabweans out into touch on the ISB 5-meter line. This was where the big units had to stand up and be counted. The throw from Brown was strong and Tokeley did what he does best, getting up at the front of the line out in front of his man and setting up the rolling maul. The entire pack piled in (Higgins playing on the wing informs me that even he had a go) and on went the maul. Zimbabwe were penalised for pulling it down and the ball was kicked out to give the ISB the opportunity to repeat the process. On this occasion the maul travelled fully 25 meters before again being illegally pulled down by the Zimbabwean pack. When two minutes later the tourists were given the opportunity to set up one more maul close to the hosts' line the pack performed yet again with Man of the Match and recipient of my Captain's award for the tour Harries grounding the ball. This time Jewers couldn't repeat his kicking magic sending the ball wide and short.
ISB 14-11 Zimbabwe U19.
The game still had twenty minutes to play and Zimbabwe struck back almost immediately. A technical infringement meant that the ISB coughed up another kickable straight-arm penalty with the resultant three points levelling the scores.
ISB 14-14 Zimbabwe U19.
With the match delicately poised the ISB took the initiative. A wonderful restart by Jewers allowed the tourists to regather possession and when a penalty was nudged into the corner the entire ground expected the precise and powerful ISB maul to launch into action. On this occasion however a mix-up resulted in the sharp Bliss shipping the ball out to Huxtable with a wonderful combination of running lines from both centres Watters and Jewers releasing Wilcockson who palmed off the Zimbabwean fly half with ease to storm over under the posts. Conversion slotted the ISB found themselves in the ascendency with ten minutes to go.
ISB 21-14 Zimbabwe U19.
I say ten minutes, but to us out there on the park it felt like an eternity. The Zimbabweans attacked and attacked running hard and direct and completely pinning us down in our 22. Numerous penalties were given away but with the Hosts requiring a converted try to tie the score the waves of attacks kept on coming. Some of best tackling and scramble defence I have ever been a part of kept the marauding Zimbabweans at bay. Eventually the pressure became too much and after ten minutes of constant defence the men in pink forced the much vaunted Zimbabwean number eight to panic and knock on. A solid scrum and pick up from eight gave Bliss the opportunity to lump the ball off the field and begin scenes of tremendous jubilation.
Full Time : ISB 21-14 Zimbabwe U19.
The roller-coaster of emotions felt throughout that game is one which will stay with me for the rest of my life. Nervousness, fear, anger, pride, excitement, confusion and finally jubilation; this was test-match rugby at its finest. The whole squad should be exhilarated and tremendously proud at having produced an international victory. Lastly it should be mentioned that taking on the Zimbabwean side is without doubt the toughest international fixture the ISB has played and I know that I am, hopefully the rest of the lads are as well, delighted and full of pride having kept up the ISB 100% record against national sides.
'Bahati ikipiga hodi ni lazima ufungue mlango mwenyewe' - 'When good fortune knocks you have to open the door yourself'.
Yours in rugby,
Poults.
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