Room 101: Mike Denbee – London Welsh flanker

1. The Tube
The London Transport system is, on a good day, the quickest, cheapest and most convenient way to travel. The problem lies with how often that day occurs! When there is any sort of line issue, whether it’s a fox on the tracks, a breakdown or the unfortunate event of a death or injury the whole transport network turns into chaos. Delays and cramped, hot sweaty carriages are my idea of hell. I sweat enough as it is without being confined into small spaces with over 1,500 other commuters. I’m already dreading the day I retire from rugby and will have to get a job in the City – travelling on a hot summer day will be brutal. I’ll need a wardrobe of spare shirts at the office! With the Olympics just around the corner and an extra 3.5m people using the transport system daily I can see any sort of issue causing absolute mayhem.  My advice: avoid central London at all costs or hop on a flight abroad .
TRP verdict:  You’re in. Sticking your head into a sweaty mass of bodies should definitely be confined to rucks and mauls.
2. British Summer
What has happened to the hot, sunny British summers? Or dry summers at least? After being lucky enough to spend two weeks at the stunning Karma Kandara Resort in Bali, coming back to rain, rain and more rain is not what I was hoping for. As a professional sportsman it’s our duty to be able to rub it in the faces of our mates stuck in offices, while we run around in vests topping up our tans. Unfortunately the roles have reversed and the guys in the offices are laughing as we are running around in the rain getting soaked. Richmond is amazing in the sunshine, sitting down on the waterfront enjoying the views and having a cold beverage. What a distant thought that is at the moment. Hopefully August will bring some better weather although I won’t hold my breath. I may just have to jump on a plane to sunnier climes!
TRP verdict:  You’re out – if only for the fact you admit to wearing a vest.
3. Releasing in the tackle
As an openside flanker, being able to make a tackle and get straight on the ball is an absolute dream. Unfortunately the rules now state that ‘the tackler must release the player so the ball can be played before an attempted turnover can take place. This has decreased my turnover numbers and therefore changed the tactics I use within games. I’ve needed to be a lot more selective over which rucks I hit as well as making an early decision over whether there’s enough time to try to generate a turnover or slow the ball down. These small changes have been bought in place to try to quicken the game up but I’m still all about a good old-fashioned ‘Tackle Jackal’.
TRP verdict:  You’re in. Bring back The Day Of The Jackal! This would help stop defences fanning out across the pitch a la Rugby League.