Andy Farrell - The Faz Files - Day three... |
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It’s taken about a year longer than we all wanted, but I’m absolutely delighted at having been named on the bench for Sunday’s game against Newcastle. It’s hard to put into words how I am feeling. Whereas I went into the game on Monday night anxious and apprehensive, this is a match I can start to look forward to. I’ve got that first game out of the way and now I can just concentrate on playing. In many ways, the game on Monday night was the most important for me. Yes, I could make my full debut on Sunday, but for my own peace of mind, getting through that A-League game with no problems was all-important. What I don’t know is how long I’ll get to play on Sunday, if at all. But whatever comes my way, I just have to take it in my stride, see what happens and just look to keep progressing each week. That’s what we are aiming to do as a team and I have to do the same. As it’s been so long since I’ve been involved in the build-up to a match, I’d forgotten what I was like as we approach kick off. I have to admit that I do get a bit cranky and can be difficult to be around. That’s just me going through the mental preparations, trying to picture what will happen and how I’ll react to different situations. I have to say that I’m delighted to be feeling like that again! I realised on Monday that I was starting to get that feeling back again. Having all day to sit around was a nightmare. I do like night games and playing under floodlights, but it’s just the waiting around that is difficult. I’ve always been one of those players where I’d prefer to just jump out of bed and get straight on the pitch – just like you used to do as a schoolboy. That’s why I’m looking forward to being part of it on Sunday afternoon. Some of my friends have also noticed that change in me over the past few days. They just keep saying it’s good to have the old Andy back, not worrying about injuries and just concentrating on playing rugby. That’s a nice thing to hear. I think the best thing about the past few days has been being in a team meeting. As we go through all the notes for the weekend, talk about the way we want to play and study the Newcastle team, it all adds to the excitement for me. Even though I’ve been in those meetings for the past year, they haven’t meant a lot because I’ve not been involved. Now it means everything and with it has come that nervous buzz that you get in the build-up to a big match. Training was hard again today. We were doing a lot more contact work and that will be our last big session before the weekend. We’ve got a day off on Friday before the captain’s run through on Saturday where we just finalise a few things ahead of the game. I have actually played at Vicarage Road before. The stadium hosted a Great Britain Test Match against New Zealand in 1998 and although it was a few years ago, the stadium has pretty much remained the same. I kicked five goals that day, but the game ended in a 23-23 draw and I remember it being a disappointing result. I’m hoping for a lot better on Sunday. I do actually enjoy playing on soccer pitches. The surfaces are usually a lot quicker and are usually in a better state during the winter months. Because I had played at Vicarage Road and enjoyed it, it was another reason which attracted me to Saracens so that will make Sunday even better. Before long, it will be time for me to run out on the pitch for the warm-up on Sunday and you know what – I can’t wait! See you Sunday. |
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