You can take athletes away from their sport but the competitive juices remain intact.
The All Blacks took part in a mini-triathlon involving rowing, hill running relays and kayaking yesterday in a break from the usual training routines.
And in between the chortles and the constant urgings, therewas some serious competition taking place.
The squad of 30 has been split into groups for events during the World Cup. Last week it was wearing eye patches while they indulged in skills work. Yesterday they hit the water and the hills beside their beachfront hotel.
As the thermometer eased towards 30C, players at home with an oval ball hit the water in four-man skiffs in races of about 700m.
The ultra competitive ones were the usual suspects, such as captain Richie McCaw, Byron Kelleher and Keith Robinson. All three sat in the stroke seats, that is the captain's seat.
McCaw's quartet, which included Luke McAlister, Greg Somerville and Doug Howlett, were shunted from behind early in their race but had the last laugh.
Some knew what they were doing; others - step forward Tony Woodcock and Sitiveni Sivivatu for starters - were all at sea.
When they hit the hill, pairs of players were tied together by cords. None were slicker than Howlett and Brendon Leonard.
Front rowers Somerville and Anton Oliver, another combination, were blowing hard by the end.
The relays ended with a solo run, and here's a surprise: McCaw won it, beating home Dan Carter by 30m.
The point of the exercise was to freshen the minds, and at the same time get some exercise.
Activities were watched by a handful of curious onlookers and bevy of cameras, a portly middle aged pair in skimpy togs taking a particularly keen interest. This, you guessed, was a first for the locals.
