Nations Cup

Nations Cup - down time

Generally speaking, the day following matchday is pretty laid back and uneventful.

Most of the time it's taken up by a post-match debrief with the match observer and a DVD review.

Occasionally one of the teams will request your presence at a DVD review so they can ask questions of certain decisions (or in some cases lack of them).

The only team to have asked this so far have been the South Africans, and it was a good meeting in which myself and the coaching staff learned of each others' interpretations.

It transpires that the South Africans, unlike the other nations here, have played very few international matches since the World Cup in 2006, so they are keen to learn referees' interpretations of certain events that take place on the field.

Most of the time coaches from the other nations tend to catch you for a chat over breakfast in the dining hall, although I'm not a morning person, so do my best to avoid contact until at least 10am when I'm a little more awake.

Monday, thou, was a little different after Sunday (match day three) in that we went to Niagara Falls - obviously a must-see when you're in this part of the world.

It was simply amazing and a trip on the boat that takes you right up to both the Canadian and American falls has to be done if you are to really appreciate the power and wonder of nature.

And it was nice to get away from rugby for a day. As much as we all love the sport, two weeks can be a long time and the danger of cabin fever at the campus creeps up as the days go by.

A worthwhile trip and a change of scenery - definitely good for the sporting soul.