 After a difficult early season, in which his teammates Tom James, whom he had rowed against in the 2005 Boat Race, and Andrew Triggs Hodge picked up injuries, the first-choice four raced together for the first time in Poznań in the final World Cup event of the season, finishing second.The GB four then dominated their heats and semi finals at the Beijing Olympics.In the final, however, the Australian four lead for most of the way.