Lions' latest ploy: listing their gripes of wrath

The Lions are to complain to the Rugby Union about the shortage of medical back-up during the first test in Christchurch when captain Brian O'Driscoll was injured.

Britain's Guardian newspaper yesterday reported there was a 15-minute delay before O'Driscoll was given morphine to ease the pain of his dislocated shoulder last Saturday.

O'Driscoll suffered the injury in the second minute of the match when he was tackled by All Blacks Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu.

In addition to O'Driscoll having to wait for the morphine, the report said, there was only one ambulance available at Jade Stadium because a male spectator had earlier suffered a fatal heart attack.

A Lions spokesperson said the tourists' medical staff fully sympathised with the family of the deceased but were "surprised" at the lack of adequate back-up facilities.

The Lions will also make clear their unhappiness at the unsportsmanlike behaviour of a section of the crowd during the test, which the tourists lost 3-21.

Non-playing Lions were unimpressed by the hostile attitude of some home fans seated nearby who taunted them and flicked V-signs at them. One player said home supporters had banged their fists on the sides of the team bus and shouted obscenities.

The spokesperson said the Lions had been on the brink of filing an official complaint after the test but would air their concerns instead in the end-of-tour report.

The Lions were also to express reservations about the initial stadium medical care received by No 8 Lawrence Dallaglio during the opening game against Bay of Plenty.

Dallaglio was put on a golf cart after dislocating his right ankle and breaking his fibula but it proved too big to transport him beneath the stand for treatment.

- NZPA

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