A Winning Start

It was great to win the first of our QBE Internationals matches on Saturday against Fiji. There are things that we did well as a team and some we need to improve on ahead of the next game, but overall we are pleased.

It was great to win the first of our QBE Internationals matches on Saturday against Fiji. There are things that we did well as a team and some we need to improve on ahead of the next game, but overall we are pleased.

Immediately after each game we have a set procedure, and this week was no different. Every player gets weighed before and straight after the game so that the nutritionists know exactly how much fluid each player needs to take on to replenish what's been lost.

At this point anyone who has picked up a knock will be looked at by the physios and given treatment where necessary. We'll then get showered and do post-match media interviews and some corporate appearances for our commercial partners, before joining the opposition team for a meal.

This will be the time when we're able to see friends and family who will have come down to Twickenham to watch the game. Thankfully I live close by in Esher, so am able to visit home occasionally when we're in camp and see my girlfriend, but some of the team who live a bit further away aren't so fortunate.

On Monday we looked at the DVD of Fiji to see how we can step up our performance for the next match. Rather than watching the full 80 minutes again, the coaches edit two packages of positive and negative points, so everyone is clear about what needs to be maintained and what needs to be improved.

This week we'll continue our routine of gym work in the mornings followed by field drills in the afternoons. We work very hard during the day, so in the evenings we generally relax in the team room. I'm sharing with Charlie Sharples during this series. He's a great room mate and we get on well, so we will normally just chill out with DVDs during the rest periods.

We are all looking ahead to the Australia game this Saturday. They have world class players in every position so it's going to be a huge challenge for us, but we're confident we can build on our good start.

Mike Brown is representing the England team. For more behind the scenes footage from inside the England camp you can watch the latest episode of O2 Inside Line at www.O2InsideLine.com or below. To receive alerts to your phone when each episode is released text INSIDE to 61202.

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