19 September The Blues have been combining post-match recovery with training for the upcoming match against Kanto Gakuin University. Training continued apace today, and the new stand in captain John Allen was announced for Sunday as Fraser Gemmel is staying out due to a minor hamstring strain. The clear blue skies and blazing sunshine made for hot work in training, as the Blues worked hard to produce what the Captain calls 'raising the bar' leading in to the game on Sunday. Technical advisor Paul Roberts performed the usual practice weighing players before and after training to control dehydration, and the results produced a new lightest player on tour for the first time. Until today Will Rubie has been officially the lightest player on the tour at 77.1kg, but after training scrum-half Dan Taberner weighed in at an unusually minuscule 77kg. Rumours abounded that Will had either a lead weight or more likely a water bottle down his shorts but this was not confirmed in the showers. The afternoon bought more gym for the squad and the now traditional bathing and 'puff and buff'. Dolly is alleged to have been recovered from her ordeal intact to the relief of ovine enthusiast, kiwi, Fraser Gemmel. Tour policeman 'hard man' Richard Woods has been assigned as personal bodyguard to the poor sheep, lest Fraser be left alone with her again. In addition, when Richard is unavailable, Dolly can be frequently found well gripped in the arms of Australian ovine enthusiast John Allan. It seems as though the Australasian members of the squad have learnt their lesson and realised the true value of Dolly and the high price people will pay to get their hands on her (Fraser?). I am sure this news is of great relief to those of you at home, but do please keep sending the money anyway.