Morning:
8°c
After breaking my nose for the second time in 10 days I will find out today when I'll have it re-set again.
On the first occasion, the damage was caused by Simon Shaw's elbow in training and after treatment last Monday to rearrange the bone, it was broken again after I clashed heads with New Zealand's Richie McCaw on Saturday.
I will have to have a general anaesthetic because the bone on the right side that has been broken (basically it collapsed) needs to be pushed back up across my face. Last time, the doctor said it took a tremendous force to sort it out.
Whenever you have had an injury it's inevitable that in the next game the same spot will be hit and sure enough the nose went as I tried to make a tackle. Having played just six days after the first operation, if I can be treated early this week then I could be back for Harlequins against Gloucester on Saturday.
I had never broken my nose until Shawsy's elbow arrived on the scene in that training session and it means I will at least have bruises and a wonky nose to remember this month's Tests by.
I wanted to use the three internationals to kick on from last season and felt I found my feet again in the final game on Saturday.
I admit that playing full-back in the previous two matches probably didn't work and I was frustrated at not being able to get into the game as much as I hoped.
I really enjoyed facing the All Blacks and that was my best game against the best team of the series. It was nice to know I can still do it on the wing - but it was two games too late.
Martin Johnson spoke to us before the match about the things that were said in the press and asked us to have a real crack at the All Blacks.
He was so up for the game I'm sure he would have played if given the chance.
To be 6-6 with the All Blacks at half-time put us in a great position and this was a missed opportunity to win a tight game against the world's No1 team.
We have shown signs of improvement in these matches and we have huge belief in Johnno and the rest of the coaching team and it's important to keep everyone together going into the Six Nations.
Stability is key in any organisation and I believe we have the right people to take the squad forward. Johnno is outstanding and the coaching group is very tight knit - that is obvious to anyone who spends time around them.
After we beat Argentina there were calls for coaches to be fired and players to be dropped. With our performance against the All Blacks, I am confident we have raised spirits but at the same time we are realistic and we have gone back to our clubs knowing there is hard work ahead for the England squad.
Looking after your nose is also a priority and my focus is now on helping Quins get up the Premiership table and I can't believe that after serving his four-month ban, my team-mate Tom Williams has - like me - broken his nose with real blood coming out against Northampton.
How ironic was that?
