Under clear blue skies at Browns Sports and Leisure Club in Vilamoura, the England rugby squad have spent the past week being put through their drills as they strive to reach peak condition for their Six Nations opener on 4 February at Twickenham against France.
England, who spent last year unbeaten under coach Eddie Jones, also visited the Algarve last autumn in preparation for matches against South Africa and Australia, who they both later demolished in London with clinical displays.
England have already equalled their own record of 14 consecutive victories in rugby test matches when they beat Australia last December.
The current record stands at 18 matches, set last year by the all-conquering All Blacks, until they were defeated by a spirited Irish team.
On paper, England will be confident of equalling that record by winning their first four Six Nations fixtures.
The record-breaking fixture will be against the other form team in the Six Nations, Ireland on 18 March in Dublin.
But with high expectations on their shoulders, the England squad looked in great spirits this week, with many of the players and visitors commenting on the great weather. Little did they know that the past week has been among the coldest in recent memory in southern Portugal.
The players were clearly enjoying their training sessions in the Algarve sun, with selected members of the press allowed considerable time to watch a practice session and snatch glimpses of Eddie Jones’s excellent understanding and rapport with his players.
The state-of-the-art facilities at Browns has seen it grow in popularity among major sports teams with the facility making a series of considerable investments and repeatedly raising its already high standards.
It has also built two separate full-sized pitches, both of which were used extensively this past week by the England rugby squad.
Browns Sport and Leisure Club told The Portugal News that they expect 2017 to be a bumper year at the venue once more.
Besides the England rugby squad, Browns has seen the likes of Stade Français, Bath, Ulster, Argentina, Wasps and Worcester use their facilities.
But teams of all shapes, ages and sizes can often be found preparing for a new season or regrouping in a winter or summer break at Browns.
In the meantime, the Algarve is increasingly becoming England rugby’s ‘home away from home’, and all who were involved with the squad and backroom staff this past week will be watching the upcoming Six Nations with great hope and expectations.