A black day for rugby: Henry

Lions 41 New South Wales 24

SYDNEY - The British Lions and New South Wales are blaming each other for violent clashes that marred their match at the Sydney Football Stadium.

One player was sent off and five sin-binned during a spiteful game which Lions coach Graham Henry described as a "black day" for the sport.

The Lions accused the Waratahs of deliberately starting the fights to disrupt their preparations for this weekend's first test against Australia, while NSW said the Lions were responsible for the brawling.

"I'm just annoyed about the whole game, actually," Henry said. "If they [the Lions] hadn't had the discipline it could have got very, very serious. It was a very black day for the game of rugby down here.

"I thought the game had been cleaned up a lot over the last 30 years and it was disappointing to see this sort of thing happen.

"And I think there has been some sort of agenda by the Australian media to create some impression about the Lions."

A furious Lions manager Donal Lenihan described the fighting as disgraceful but said it had not affected the team's first test build-up.

"Given the circumstances of the game, everybody is hugely thrilled to win this match. I think this game has pulled us even closer together as a squad."

Referee Scott Young had his hands full, sin-binning Waratahs lock Tom Bowman inside the opening 30 seconds, and then despatching Lions Phil Vickery and Danny Grewcock and Waratahs pair Brendon Cannon and Cameron Blades for fighting during the second half.

The worst incident resulted in Waratahs fullback Duncan McRae being ordered off after raining blows on Ronan O'Gara. McRae was yesterday given a seven-week ban.

He pleaded guilty but said he was provoked by a swinging arm, which struck his jaw, and then a kick or knee to his stomach.

The International Rugby Board disciplinary committee said provocation was no defence and repeatedly striking a player who could not defend himself was very serious.

McRae apologised to O'Gara and his team-mates and said he deserved the ban. O'Gara had eight stitches and severe bruising and swelling under his left eye.

NSW coach Bob Dwyer said McRae claimed O'Gara hit him first.

"He's told me he retaliated and I'd have to say that was not the first incident in the game," said Dwyer.

"The fact is that the first punch of the game was thrown by the Lions.

"I don't condone what Duncan did, but I reject any suggestions there was an unhealthy approach to the game by our team.

"We've been accused of starting the situation but we're saying, 'Look at our record in the Super 12. We just don't play that way'."

British newspapers joined the fray yesterday, quoting Lions players as accusing Australia of waging a propaganda war against the team.

The Sunday Telegraph headlined its sports section with the words "Assault. O'Gara the victim of Australian thuggery."

In the Observer, Lions utility back Austin Healey said: "I think they saw what we did in the first three games and decided to start a propaganda war against us. It's easy, isn't it. Bash the Poms. They're experts at it.

"But look what it's all led to. That game yesterday was sick. And what Duncan McRae did was plain cowardly. The boys really hope they get the chance to play against him in England."

In a column headlined "And they call us dirty ... " he wrote: "The boys are hard nuts but I think they've been shaken by this. Which is perhaps the whole point."

Former England skipper and Lions flanker Lawrence Dallaglio wrote in the Sunday Times: "Accusing the Lions of being over-physical is simply a question of propaganda but it's just a part of what goes on out here.

"You've got to be tough off the field as well as on it."

- AGENCIES