Jonny makes visitors' day

The two young visitors from the UK have an extra spring in their step after seeing the Lions up close.

They caught a bus out to Albany, braved the rain, wriggled their way through the 5000-plus crowd of school children, mothers and babies, workers playing hooky and pensioners and got their reward - a sighting of Jonny Wilkinson.

"Jonny's my favourite," says Nicola Ford in her South London accent. "My father used to coach him at Farnham Rugby Club; he played in the same team as my brother.

"The team Jonny was in won everything.

"I remember Dad telling us that he had this really good player in the team. Dad helped with his kicking - added to his talent."

At the time Ford was three years younger than the 13-year-old Wilkinson, and although a keen player too, way out of the England star's orbit.

"He wouldn't remember me," she laughs. "My father still keeps in touch, but not me."

Earlier Wilkinson had been the co-star - with captain Brian O'Driscoll - of the first Lions' first public training session on tour.

As we have come to expect from the Lions, this was a feat of stage management. Rousing Lions signature music set the mood.

A huge screen at one end of the ground played a relentless reel of Lions v All Black games that had the little ones cheering.

Kids lined up for a sneaky pottle of hot chips. Police studded the terraces, and there was even a paddy wagon in the parking lot.

And then, at 10.45 sharp, O'Driscoll led a squad of Lions, most of whom won't be playing against Bay of Plenty this weekend, onto the field for a 45-minute light workout.

First came the warm-up followed by the players stretching their mighty hamstrings, led by Dave Reddin, the team's fitness coach.

Next they divided into groups for ball work - with tennis balls as well as the more usual oval variety.

The reason, said the commentator, was to encourage dexterity. They then moved onto line-out drills, tackling and scrummaging.

On the bench 20 hopefuls from various schools and clubs, all dressed in red Lions-supplied jerseys, waited their turn on the field.

This is all part of head coach Clive Woodward's desire to have his players engage with the New Zealand public.

And the kids love it.

As Courtney Teaotonga (Ngati Ruanui), who plays hooker for Takapuna Grammar, explains: "They've taken the three youngest in the team. They're all 15.

"And do you usually chuck around tennis balls at training?"

Three Grammar faces swing round, eyebrows raised. "No!"

It is at the end of the session that the Lions' film crew calls Wilkinson for his on-camera interview.

There's a last ripple of applause from the fans already trickling out of the stadium. But for Nicola Ford and her Scottish companion, Aileen Stephen, this is the high point.