SUNDAY

I GET the schedule for the week and ring around the provincial physiotherapists to get an up-to-date history on the players. Invariably they all have knocks, bumps and bruises. We are due to meet at 7.0 p.m. at the hotel so I try and get in by 6.0 to set up. Ralla (Peter O'Reilly the bagman) has the beds set up and all the medical equipment, like tape, ready. Dinner is at 8.0 p.m. so between 7.0 and 8.0 I screen all the players and make a list. After the meal I see players at 15-20 minute intervals. Willie Bennett, the masseur is present as well. It's not unusual to be there until 1.0 a.m. the following morning. The doc (Mick Griffin) also checks through the injuries.

MONDAY

I get up at about 7.30 a.m., grab a quick breakfast and start to treat the early risers. The hour from 9.0-10.0 is all about taping players prior to training. We have a team meeting at 10.0 and prior to that I have a quick chat with the management about which players can and can't do contact work.

At pitch-side you keep an eye on the players. I ring up the IRFU nurse Liz Doyle to order stock. I'd chat with Mick about injured players and the treatment they were having. We obviously attend to any players hurt during the session. If we're in Greystones, Willie, myself and the doc run back to the hotel because we don't get a chance to do much exercise. I grab a quick shower and lunch; it's then time to treat players before the afternoon session.

TUESDAY

It's just a morning session. The players rest in the afternoon, although that doesn't apply to Willie and myself. The queue never seems to diminish. That usually takes you into the early evening. Sometimes when the team is actually picked, players who haven't been saying anything suddenly arrive for treatment, with essentially minor niggles. They'd be focused on the game at that stage and wouldn't want any distractions, however minor.

WEDNESDAY

This week we will be flying out to Edinburgh. If we were staying, it's usually the night the team heads out to the pictures. I get the mickey taken out of me about films I recommend. If the team goes out, I always go out. There are times when there are players injured and you have to stay back and treat them. We have a huge responsibility to the players to make sure that they are as fit mentally and physically as possible and that would apply to Willie and the doc as well. They have to believe you are on 24-hour call for them.

THURSDAY

It is the last day for fitness tests to see if a player is going to make it. Some players are particularly good at looking after themselves, like Kevin Maggs and Mike Mullins. Others you would have to cajole, chase them up to get them into the treatment room.

FRIDAY

A light run out for the team. We are always exceptionally busy, especially Willie, as players can get a little restless. Woodie (Keith Wood) would come in and have a chat. Everyone requires a rub down. At that stage if we had a player with an injury about which we were concerned - last season it was Brian O'Driscoll's shoulder - we might have to call for an MRI scan. Some players are very good at lightening the atmosphere. Guy Easterby has a good sense of fun while John Hayes is another who has a word or two to say, no matter how great the pressure.

SATURDAY

It's a pretty full on day. Get up and breakfast early and set up quickly. You need a cool head. Normally we are in a small room and the place is packed with lads and everyone wants everything done yesterday: they want to get taped and get going. If someone asks for something, you have to have it. Up to about 11.0 a.m. it's go, go, go. Then the players have their meal and you can regroup.

I would then go and check with the players who wear contact lenses and keep the spares in a pouch. I head down to Lansdowne Road with the team and set up my stall in the corner of the dressingroom.

Willie will do a few rub downs, I'll do others. You then stagger out with all your belongings to pitch side. You don't watch the game, you look at each area of contact, watching players to see if they get up.

After the match it's a mopping up operation. You go round and round the dressing room doing what's required until every one is gone and then you go have a shower.