Well, people — it has been some time since my last installment and much has happened!
At Narbonne we beat neighbouring Carcassonne in a clash of the French second division middleweights. Berlin revealed itself to me as one of the most amazing cities I’ve ever seen, and the Wallabies have continued with their heartbreaking, thoroughly convincing portrayal of Jekyll and Hyde.
Berlin
The ProD2 paused for seven days here last week so I decided to head to Berlin. I’d only ever heard great things from people who had been there and it didn’t disappoint. The Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and Charlottenburg Palace were just a few of the incredible sights I took in.
Visiting Berlin was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve had. Its rich history provided a multilayered context, which made the architecture and locations I visited transcend their physical constitution. The Reichstag was the most imposing building I have seen. There was something sinister and intimidating about it, yet it was also grand and admirable.
Other sites provided a fertile bed for the imagination. I took a photo of Checkpoint Charlie from the first floor balcony of the McDonald’s that currently overlooks it. Berlin is full of these contrasting settings that make it such an amazing destination. The old and new sit side by side, both architecturally and philosophically, and strangely complement each other. In short, if you get the chance, GO TO BERLIN!
The Wallaby Debacle
In the short term, Berlin also unwittingly spared me from the distress of watching the Wallabies take on France, a game that can only be described as an absolute debacle. That sounds harsh, but looking at it objectively it is hard to call it anything else. We went down 33-6 and again failed to score a try. The footage reveals the scoreline to be a generous reflection of the game. France could have scored a couple more tries, although six points was probably a fair valuation of the Wallabies’ attack.
Let me say, as is usually the case, the players in the gold jerseys did themselves proud. Some incredible individual efforts were again on display, albeit less frequent than one would like. I used the word heartbreaking before because, as a player, I can see the emotion and effort the Wallabies players are putting in. When this is not matched by reward it is soul-destroying, and I have been there.
The Spring tour remains the priority before any decisions on the way forward should be made, but last week’s game highlighted an undeniable truth: something is rotten in the state of Denmark. The details of how we got here really are irrelevant and, more than ever, now seem pointless even discussing.
The only comfort for the moment is the Australian spirit. More for me than some, as I am fortunate enough to know the outstanding character of numerous players in the Australian team.
If you are Australian and living in London I can tell you this: your team are hurting. They are giving everything they have. They are proud to wear the gold jersey and will die for the cause this weekend. Whatever you need to do to get to the game, do it. And scream as loud as you can for your team. The decisions and power to fix what is currently happening rest not with the players.
Until next time, all the best and Go the Wallabies!
