The difference a win has to a loss is massive. Having beaten Northampton today at Kingston Park we can now look forward to a week where we can build on the confidence taken from today's game.

Things seem so much more bearable when you have won; no negative thoughts, bumps and bruises don't seem to hurt as much and you look forwards rather than dwelling on the past.

This season's Guinness Premiership is going to be a season of highs and lows it seems. So many results have been surprises and teams have been beaten or taken to the wire in games that previously you would have put money on. Who for example would have predicted that Wasps would have lost two on the bounce? 

I feel for my good mate Dave Walder down at Wasps. Having had a fracture dislocation of his ankle in the fixture against Worcester last year, he returned to the starting line up today and would have been really looking forward to coming back and having a successful weekend. It sounds like it was a tough game and unfortunately for him they lost but they and he will bounce back I am sure. 

The difference between winning squads this weekend and those that lost, no matter how close the game, will be massive. Players will feel like the whole world is against them and that life can't get any worse if they lost. Those that won will feel full of confidence and be looking forward to getting up tomorrow and preparing for the next round. 

Even though I didn't play through injury this weekend, I am really pleased for the lads at Newcastle and can't wait to get back into things properly after I have finished my rehab......

Sunday 16th November

I sit here in front of the computer feeling very low, with millions of questions running through my head - none of which I seem to be able to answer as my mind is racing.

We lost today 24 - 8 to London Irish in a game that was there for the taking at half time. As a team, you could probably say we are low on confidence but the world of professional sport does not let you sit back and re-build it. We have 4 days to pull together and get ready to set about Worcester next Friday night.

We have what can be described as a 'rank' start to this season and sometimes you are left as a sportsmen wondering what it is all about and why you put yourself through such mental, and sometime physical, torture. Everybody has bad days at the office and I am by no means taking for granted the job I have got, it just happens that sometimes things go so badly that you start asking yourself deep questions and as I have said many of these you are not in a position to answer.

I think I have got the mental side of my personal game and how I react about right. The night of the game (now) I am in complete pieces mentally but a good nights sleep and I will pick myself up as soon as I swing my stiff legs out of the bed in the morning. It's the way it has to be as Worcester are not going to feel sorry for us and nor is anyone else. I know what I personally have to work on and this week I am going to make extra sure that everything has been covered so I can put myself in the best position to perform well on Friday.

The first thing to start the week though is to clear the mind of negativity. Don't get me wrong, I will be hurting after losing until the start of the game next week but you can't let that affect your preparation or indeed your life, because if you let it, it will! I can internally let things drive me forward but I won't let things affect me externally. My family life is not affected after tonight, that's just not fair on my wife, Mum, Dad, sister and dogs! In fact the dogs are the best ones to be around after a day like today - they don't care at all as long as they get fed, walked and cuddled!

We, as players are the ones who have the opportunity to turn things around and we will try to do this the best we can by working hard through the week and that starts tomorrow. Recovery in the morning, video, maybe some kicking if I am not too stiff and then I will be in a great state physically to prepare for the next game fast approaching........