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#ShoulderToShoulder: Tour Diary – Day 4, Boca

#ShoulderToShoulder: Tour Diary – Day 4, Boca

Day four of the tour and there is a surprise visit to one of the oldest districts in Buenos Aires and a chance to catch up with an old friend.

Day 4 – San Isidro And Boca

Training this morning is in San Isidro Rugby Club in the morning and the lads are certainly working hard as Joe puts them through their paces.

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Thursday will be a travel day and Friday is the Captain’s Run so this is the last full-on session this week before the first Test. That brings an added intensity as the players switch into ‘game mode’ as the match draws nearer.

Greg Feek takes the forwards for a tough live scrummaging session at the end, while the kickers stay on with Richie Murphy to go through their routines.

Nutritionist Ruth Wood-Martin flies ahead to Chaco today to pave the way for the squad and to ensure that all the food requirements are in place for a hungry group on arrival.

The afternoon is free and some of the squad and staff take a trip to ‘La Bombonera’, the home of Boca Juniors Football Club accompanied by former Leinster and Argentina out-half Felipe Contepomi.

Ireland team and staff with Felipe Contepomi in the Boca Juniors dressing room

The stadium is a huge contrast to the Aviva Stadium, not least in how the away fans are corralled and the visiting team get the worst facilities!

The home team dressing room is very different too as you can see from picture above, while the away team dressing room is much more basic and is located right underneath the terrace for the ‘hardcore’ home fans so the noise is intimidating.

The district of Boca is passionate about the club and it shows in the various shops and murals on the wonderfully dilapidated art deco buildings.

The Ireland squad on a walk through the Boca district

Boca is one of the oldest districts and the buildings are a curious mix of colours, styles and period.

It is a great privilege of touring that allows the squad and members of the coaching and backroom staff to see a different side of life and learn a little about the country they are visiting.

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