John O'Sullivan talks to full back Girvan Dempsey on how he avoids going stir crazy in Ireland's team hotel and what he's cooking up for Argentina on Saturday
Ensconced in a hotel surrounded by the same old faces, the regimen of training and team meetings is all that alleviates the boredom for Ireland full back Girvan Dempsey for a few hours every day.
Today's professional rugby players enjoy a cossetted life as they prepare for internationals but there is always the threat of going a little stir crazy when mental stimulation is secondary to physical preparation.
The Ireland squad probably know every nook and cranny by now of the Glenview Hotel, near the Glen O'The Downs in Co Wicklow, which has been home for the past three weeks during the three-Test series against Australia, Fiji and finally on Saturday, Argentina.
Dempsey played against Australia but given the Fiji game off, he took the opportunity to spend some time at home. "When you have been enclosed in the camp it is nice to get out. We had done a lot of fitness training and weights so I wasn't too disappointed to get a break from that," he laughs.
Dempsey smiles when he considers the common perception that Irish professional rugby players have a secret life away from the sport, donning shirt and old-school tie to go to work.
"Attitudes have changed a little from the first time that I spoke to people as a professional rugby player. They'd ask me what I did and I'd tell them and they'd still say, 'but what do you work at, what do you do in your spare time?'
"We do have a lot of time at our disposal. In an international context, it's not so bad for the Dublin guys when we are cooped up in hotels because we can pay the odd visit home, and see family or friends.
"The regime when we are hotel -bound is pretty much a pitch session in the morning and weights in the afternoon. Most evenings you would have a meeting.
"What has proved a good investment for me is a laptop. I can play DVD movies, log on the Internet and do things like that. I also like to read, thrillers and also historical books. The one I read just recently was about (Charles) Lindbergh.
"I have just got my hands on the Roy Keane autobiography and I'm looking forward to flicking through that and seeing what interesting facts pop up. In terms of DVDs I've got (the movie) Jerry Maguire with me; I like sports related films but definitely no rugby."
Not much of a one for watching television, Dempsey did enjoy his recent guest spot on RTÉ's Open House, where he was interviewed by Marty Whelan .
"It was a different experience being in front of a television camera with the interview going out live. I hadn't really done it before. I was nervous going into it but once I sat down in the chair and the conversation flowed I relaxed and enjoyed it."
Having already qualified with a business studies degree, the 27-year-old has one eye on the end of his playing career. "Sport is in my blood and it is a big interest of mine so I would like to stay involved in a business sense. Maybe marketing or PR or possibly as an agent."
Internationals of yesteryear wouldn't believe the dietary regime of the modern player. Not too many still live with mammy, although as Dempsey concedes few will be following Conor O'Shea and Kieron Dawson on to the cookery programme Ready, Steady Cook.
"I wouldn't go hungry. Many of the players dabble. You make a conscious effort to eat the right food. There are guys within the squad like Emmet Byrne and Denis Hickie who follow a very strict carbohydrate and protein regime.
"I have learnt from Emmet a few things that are easy to make. We obviously have dietary information available that would include eating pasta, rice, broccoli, chicken, fish and sweet potatoes."
But the only recipe that really interests the tough-tackling last line of defence is one that involves stuffing the Argentinian visitors on Saturday.
