Brian O'Driscoll's Diary: It was a case of tired limbs and minds after the Triple Crown triumph so the offer of a couple of weeks off was snapped up with alacrity. It presented an opportunity to go on holiday with a few of the lads, four or five days out of the country; it was a nice break after what was an intensive eight-week run.

We returned in time for the Leinster game against Llanelli, one of the real low points in a season that had precious few highs in the blue jersey. On a personal level I picked up a bit of an injury and only returned in time for the final game against the Celtic Warriors. It was an acid test because of all the media hype that focused on problems off the pitch.

There was a quiet satisfaction amongst the players that we responded in the right way, particularly in the second half, which was a bit of a try fest. Our pride was at stake and there was that determination to finish on a positive. It was nice to be able to do that for Gary (Ella), although the events that followed made the victory a little hollow.

It's up to the committee and chief executive to make a decision on the coach. All the players can do is continue to work under the coach and whatever decision is made in boardrooms is down to those doing the hiring and firing. There should have been no need for us to come out and say that we're backing the coach; of course we're going to do that.

The committee decided Declan Kidney was the way forward and Gary Ella was no longer the man to drive the team. I have strong feelings about what went on but am not going to air them at this juncture. You certainly couldn't say the players were apathetic about what was going on.

We're looking forward to working with Declan. We (the senior players) had a meeting last week with him. He just wanted to get a feel for where we felt we were at in Leinster rugby. He has coached many of the guys in the squad and there'll be very few new faces to him.

It'll be interesting to work with him on a full-time basis. He hasn't changed a huge amount since my first introduction to him when he coached the under-19 World Cup-winning side. He's less schoolteacher-like because he treats us like adults; well after all we're supposed to be grown-ups now - although in some cases that's disputable.

He's a more mature coach given his experiences over the past six or seven years. I'm going to be intrigued watching him work with the full team rather than just the back line. He's a great motivational speaker. I remember him at 19s saying there was no reason why we shouldn't be the best and why we shouldn't beat the best. His logic is simple but compelling, easily understood, and I expect that'll be the same when he takes over at Leinster.

There was some time, between the end of the domestic season and going to South Africa, to indulge in a little rest and relaxation. I took to the fairways and really got the buzz back for golf. It was a bit like a curate's egg, my golf that is: good in spots.

The first day I played well but the same week was atrocious in Royal Dublin.

I gave it a bit of a break and then went out to Royal Dublin again to play with my dad, this time in a competition, my first in three years. I felt it was about time I got zero-point-one back. Amazingly, I managed to equal standard scratch playing off a nine handicap.

It was a touch of feast or famine, birdies (four) and double bogeys. It resembled a private competition to keep a par off my card. There were a couple of moments that'll guarantee I'll hit the fairways again after this tour.

At the par-five 11th, I slapped a three-iron second shot on in two with the pin right up the back of the green. It came to rest about 14 feet from the hole. Suffice to say the eagle putt never touched the hole, a performance I managed to repeat on the 14th: still no one complains about tap-in birdies. It was a nice distraction ahead of the tour.

The priority now is the two tests against South Africa. The local media have tried to deliberately talk down their team's chances. But we're not fools. The Springboks will be hugely physical and passionate in front of their own supporters. Our responsibility is to match them physically first and then set about winning the tests.

Maggsie (Kevin Maggs) has spoken about what it was like in 1998 and it's reasonable to suggest the intensity will be the same, hopefully without the excesses that overshadowed the rugby.

It's funny how you notice the small things. In training the other day Geordie (Geordan Murphy) demonstrated another piece of outrageous skill. He was playing scrumhalf at a ruck and instead of bending down to pick up and pass the ball, he flicked it up with his foot: you could have asked the rest of the squad to try that and most would end up falling face first into the ruck. He sets himself very high standards and is a pleasure to watch.

The general intensity seems to be there and there is a sense of anticipation as the game draws nearer.

When the tour is finished I'm going to stay on for four or five days, return home before going away again for a week and then have another five days at home prior to returning for a 10-week pre-season schedule.

I might have gotten a little too much sunshine yesterday but by the time pre-season comes around I'll actually be looking forward to it. I have never before had such a sustained opportunity to work on getting bigger, stronger and faster.

First though there is the small matter of the Springboks.