With a busy Rugby season ahead -- including a Bledisloe Cup Tournament that will see the Qantas Wallabies meeting the All Blacks four times in Auckland, Sydney, Wellington and Tokyo -- the Qantas Travel Insider team talks to Qantas Wallabies Wing/Fullback Drew Mitchell about his travels, both on and off the field.
Any special diet/fitness regimen to stay in shape this year?
No diet as such, just eating everything in proportion. I tend to load up pre-game with food high in carbohydrates, but steer clear of them as much as I can at other times during the week.
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Player Profile
What do you do to prepare yourself before a match?
Probably my biggest routine is in terms of making sure that I have done my mental prep. By that, I mean having a proper understanding of our plays and structures, while also studying the patterns and structures of the opposition we are playing, and also the individual traits of their players.
What do you to do unwind after a match?
Chilling out with the team mainly. A quiet meal and a few laughs.
Opponents to watch out for?
New Zealand will always be the team for us to beat. Personally I haven’t beaten them much, so taking down the All Blacks will always be pretty special. This year’s Investec Super 14 has shown that South Africa is going to be incredibly strong, so it should be one of the great Tri-Nations.
Rookies to watch out for?
Matt Hodgson, who I play alongside at the Western Force, will go great. He was a stand out for us, working alongside Richard Brown and Dave Pocock in the loose, and I’d expect his impact to be the same for the Qantas Wallabies. His work at the breakdowns, over the ball, is just fantastic. ‘Hodgo’ has been around for a while, so his selection this year is a great reward for his persistence.
Past match highlights that are special to you?
Beating South Africa at Durban last year was pretty amazing. We hadn’t beaten them over there for eight years, so it was a biggie. I also really enjoyed beating England at Twickenham. Surely beating the ‘Poms’ at home is the ultimate for any Australian!
Five foods I shouldn’t eat but love...
Chocolate, deep-fried food – especially Dim Sims, which I love – and any fast foods.
When I am not playing rugby or training I am…
I hang out with mates who are not into footy. The rugby environment can be a pretty intense one sometimes. It is good to get out of it occasionally, hang out with other people and talk about stuff other than rugby.
One place I haven’t been but would go tomorrow if I could…
South America.
My favourite on the road hangout...
Giovanni’s Café in Cape Town. It’s near Sea Point and is a great spot.
My favourite family holiday destination...
Thailand.
My favourite relaxation destination...
Fiji.
One thing people should know about Auckland? Sydney? Brisbane?
In Auckland, you’ve gotta spend some time down at the Viaduct Harbour. In Sydney, Darling Harbour is well worth a look, especially if you’ve got some money to spend. In Brisbane, Caxton Street, with all its pubs, bars and restaurants, is a great place to go and relax after a big game of rugby.