Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force captain Jeremy Williams on their three-game road-trip in New Zealand

In his exclusive column, Western Force captain Jeremy Williams takes you on the road with the team in the midst of their three-match away sing in New Zealand, which continues against the Highlanders on Saturday. Tuesday 24 February Big travel day, flying from Perth to Auckland via Sydney with a 4.15am start. As soon as our round two game finished on Saturday, we were trying to set our body clocks to NZ time, with the five-hour time difference. On Saturday and Sunday night, I tried to get to sleep as early as possible, but also wake as early as possible — 6.30am and 5am — to simulate NZ time. We had recommended sleep times in our team schedule app. After the 4.15am wake-up, it’s a 6.30am airport meet-up. After a two-hour layover in Sydney, we arrived in Auckland at 11.30pm local time. With customs and a bus ride added, we got to the hotel around 12.15am, before a feed and eventually getting to bed at around 1:30am. Wednesday 25 February After the late arrival, we’re allowed a chilled recovery Wednesday morning, including a stretch and pool session, before training in the afternoon. After a long travel day, this was more about running through plays and cohesion than anything intense. Thursday 26 February By now, the body clock is almost adjusted. I’m waking up at 6.30am and feeling pretty good. We had captain’s run at the ground in Pukekohe, which I’d never been to before. It is always beneficial to familiarise. Friday 27 February We keep game-day mornings relaxed. I prefer a big breakfast rather than a big lunch, so I load up on scrambled eggs and two pieces of toast. We’ll play cards, get out in the sun and get coffee. Around lunch, some players nap but I’ll chill and watch a movie. I try not to waste energy thinking about the game too early. Four hours pre-game, we’ll have our team meeting and walk-throughs, which is when we start to spark up and switch into game-day mode. We’ll have a pre-match meal; spag bol and pancakes. We had a good win against Moana Pasifika and celebrate a few milestones in the sheds, with Tom Robertson’s 50th Force cap and two debuts. It’s hard to switch off after a 7pm kick-off, so I go to sleep at 2am. Saturday 28 February We stay in South Auckland for a recovery day off. Bit of time getting movement in the hotel pool. We go to a brisket house for lunch and get into individual game reviews in the afternoon. Sunday 1 March It’s a travel day, but only a two-hour flight from Auckland to Dunedin, which is great compared to our normal journeys. Leave the hotel at 11am, fly at 12.30pm, arrive at 2.30pm. Check in, have a snack and then hold our leaders meeting to discuss key points of the game, how we think we went, nail down some key messages, review clips and make any schedule changes. Monday 2 March We’re back into our usual weekly flow and adjusted to NZ time. Morning review/preview, bit of gym, team meeting discussing opposition and an install session at training. Tuesday 3 March This is our contact day, which we call green light sessions, where we go full noise. We’ll start with a units meeting and look at fixes from the Monday session. Then a big gym session. These are always individualized, so as a lock, I’m doing things like deadlifts to take the load off my back. We finish with our green-light training session. Wednesday 4 March Day off. It’s great to switch off while on the road with your teammates. These are opportunities to build connection. A few of us travel to former Force forwards coach (and now Wallabies assistant coach) Tom Donnelly’s property outside of Dunedin, where he cooks us a good lunch. It’s been cold in Dunedin all week but a few of us brave the beach on the way back for a bit of a recovery swim. We finish the day with dinner at Speights Ale House, which is an Otago icon, and another good connection opportunity. Thursday 5 March We’re back into it with our fast day. Units, team meeting, going over opposition. We’ll have our power primers before our field session. These sessions are above game speed, trying to simulate what happens in a game and go through plays. Finish off with recovery with a sauna and pool dip.