It’s a difficult task at this time of the season, with players arriving at the Vale in different stages. Indeed, several have yet to link up with Robin McBryde’s squad, involved as they are in finals action for Scarlets, Exeter and Wasps this weekend. A week together in Colwyn Bay, ending in a match against the high-flying RGC 1404 at Parc Eirias, will set the tone for the tour to come: Tonga in Eden Park on 16th June; Samoa in Apia a week later.
“We needed a date when we knew everyone would be in, and the North Wales camp takes place a week before we go out on tour,” explains the 51-times capped hooker, whose passion for S&C goes back to his younger playing days. “We’ve got a new group, so it’ll be a case of getting them together and starting the gelling process as quickly as possible. There will be a big rugby element to the trip, and it’s something we need to be conscious of: utilising every minute we have together as a squad on the pitch and off it.”
Players from Newport Dragons, Ospreys and Cardiff Blues all arrived in that order, but after Scarlets’ incredible semi-final victory in the Guinness PRO12 against Leinster, Bennett and assistant S&C coach Alex Lawson will have to wait a little longer to get their hands on the likes of Steff Evans and Samson Lee. “We’ve been keeping in contact with the S&C departments at the regions and clubs, so we know where players are at physically,” Bennett says. “That means that when we do get to North Wales, we can hit the ground running and get started with a really good training camp.
“Ideally, everyone will be involved in training on the first day on Monday, but the reality is that won’t happen, so it’s a case of managing some individuals initially.”
Having prior knowledge of training facilities is invaluable from an S&C perspective, and Bennett has the advantage of knowing what to expect from both North Wales and Auckland, where Wales will be based ahead of their match against Tonga: “The training facilities are excellent at Parc Eirias, as is the ground itself, and the fact that the game sold out almost instantly makes it a great finish to what will be an intense week of training. We’ll get some really good benefits from it.
“Our training base in New Zealand is where we stayed last year on tour, so we know what we’ll be getting there, which helps. We’ve got less time to get over the jetlag on this occasion, but it’s something we’ll be working on within our programme in order to get the players as ready as they can be when it comes to that big match at Eden Park.”
And what about that famous Samoa heat? “That’s something we’ve factored in in terms of the times we’ll be training,” answers Bennett, with temperatures likely to be in the thirties. “It’s better for us that we’re playing them in the evening on Friday – there were talks about it being played on Saturday afternoon – so that’ll be of benefit to our players so we can acclimatise in the week. It will still be hot, don’t get me wrong, but the fact that our game is an evening kick-off will help.”
Samoa represents the final week of the players’ season, so Bennett is acutely conscious that this will be a phase of maintenance for them, rather than achieving personal bests. As he puts it: “It’s all about the rugby at this stage of the season. From our perspective, we need to get that balance right for the guys who have played a lot of rugby, and the fair few boys who haven’t had that many minutes. It’s managing that difference and making sure everyone is at their peak physically and mentally, going into what you’d anticipate being two very physical Test matches.”
The large number of young players coming on tour will naturally want to impress the coaches, he says. “We want to give them the best environment to do so, but at the same time you don’t want the youngsters coming in and doing absolutely everything at the cost of not giving themselves a fair crack at making the matchday squad because they’re exhausted.”
Still, he admits that having fresh blood in camp will add to the excitement. “We want to use their enthusiasm to reinforce us as the season nears its conclusion. Players don’t need any extra motivation to play international rugby, but it is utilising what’s readily available, and that will be a lot of enthusiastic players being given a first-time opportunity. North Wales will be where we create our team environment and define the mindset that we take on tour.”
