I'm writing this column during breaks while judging at the New Zealand International Wine Show at QBE Stadium in Auckland. It's the home of the North Harbour rugby team and I would have thought that after their 48-32 loss to Hawke's Bay two days before, the coaches would have those players out on the field practising. Hard.
From the room we judge in, one looks down on to the entire playing field and though I enjoy judging this enormous show (2100 wines over three days) because it gives me a fantastic insight into the quality of new vintages and stylistic trends in wine, plus you get to really challenge your tasting skills on new and exciting varietals - one of the main attractions is being able to watch a squad of gladiatorial 20-something athletes charging around in short shorts with pecs, quads, glutes, delts, lats, abs and biceps a-bursting, during my breaks.
There's nothing quite like watching a bit of that when you're trying to psyche yourself into facing a flight of 60 shiraz.
I was hoping to see them doing drills and ball-passing games and leap on to tackle bags and then sprint up and down the field. I wanted them to do press-ups all in a line, break into pairs and hold each others feet while they do crunches and stretch out their hammies. But no. Over three whole days the team trotted out on to the field just twice and for very short periods.
There was some jogging, but no tackling - they just kind of grabbed at each others' clothing a bit. There was one player on an exercise bike, pedaling away on the sideline and one guy beside him doing rather flaccid-looking sets of burpies. There was much standing around in circles laughing and clapping.
