Tales from the Members' Bar V2 #21 - Bruce Reihana

The week has been all over the place - Monday night rugby (hurrah!); Saturday at Franklins Gardens with a 3 o’clock kick-off (hurrah!); two top quality new players for next season (hip-hip hurrah!). Media day was Thursday and Jim was replaced by Paul Grayson; Bruce Reihana, Barfly discovered, was in his car on the M1. With the wonders of radio cell telephony, we carried on regardless.

Tales from the Members' Bar

Vol.2 No.21 Bruce Reihana

A Good Season

Three definitions: back in September everyone knew that the following eight or nine months were going to represent a significant challenge. We had been out of the competition for a year; we had a load of new players. A good season was defined as consolidating our status and in being at the top of the bottom half of the league. By Christmas, we knew that we should and perhaps could have done better and the goals remained the same. Now with three or four games to go, it can be said that we have had a good season but it is not over yet. Everybody shares the belief that there is more to come from the team. It would be disappointing not to finish the league season well. Seventh place is a real possibility and it would send us into the summer break with a tremendous amount of positive feeling for when we return to pre-season training.

The current focus is on the next match - our last home league game. We want to do well in front a full Franklins Gardens.

Highs and Lows

For Bruce the best bit of the season is how this group of players has come together. There is a real joy in the squad now that they realise that they are good enough to compete in this league. The way we have played against the teams at the top of the league. The darker times were when we just could not get things right. We would go away from home fully prepared. We would play well and be in with a chance through the third quarter but end up with nothing.

Keith Barwell's Programme Piece - First 10, Last 10

The fact that our second half performance has taken us up the league and given us a shot at Heineken Cup qualification demonstrates that we have been on a learning curve. We have been improved things little by little across the season. Not only have we eliminated mistakes but we have brought new things into our game.

Recent Form

With each of our last three home games yielding four tries and the team averaging 40 points, there is a certain amount of style returning to our play. It is good rugby and playing like that is exciting. (And, good to watch, Bruce).

The Russians, the Wanderers and the A League Final

Bruce enjoyed watching the Wanderers on Monday night and was particularly impressed with VVA Podmoskovye. They played with pace and were very direct in everything they did. On just the one game it would be hard to categorise their level in terms of the English leagues. It was the Wanderers response to this hard, aggressive style that impressed Bruce most. The whole of the team is playing well. Players in it are putting their hands up for selection in the League Final and they are making a case for playing first team rugby. There were no backward steps on Monday night; everyone was stepping forward into tackles which was one of the aspects made the game such a spectacle.

Bruce and many other first team squad members will be at Henley on Monday supporting the boys; although this year, there will be no fancy dress.

arw

18.04.2009