You and whose Barmy Army?

Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll is besieged by fans at Auckland Airport. Picture / Paul Estcourt

The multinational Lions squad had barely touched down in Auckland yesterday when the first round of cross-border bickering broke out.

"I'd quite like to see Englishman Ollie Smith at centre," reckoned fan Andy Williams.

A jab in the ribs showed just what his Irish partner, Patrice Kehoe, thought of the 25-year-old's misplaced patriotism.

"You well know it'll be Brian O'Driscoll," she replied with a glare.

"Now look what you've started," lamented Mr Williams, "and we've got another seven weeks to go."

At least they can agree on fashion, with both proudly displaying their new Lions jerseys.

The pair are using the tour to kickstart a year of travelling in New Zealand, and will be joined by 12 friends to link up with the flotilla of campervans touring the country.

And the likely outcome? "Three-nil to the Lions," said Mr Williams. "Stupid question."

The joy of youthful ignorance, and they are coming to a town near you.

Phil Carr, 21, from Salisbury, has a special status among fans - he's an old boy of Bishop Wordsworth School, as is English toughguy loosie Richard Hill.

Mr Carr had just got off his flight with two mates when they found out the Lions were right on their tail.

A scramble for luggage and they were off to join the small scrum of supporters awaiting the team's arrival. As a group they were neither barmy, nor much of an army.

Mr Carr said they were on a tight budget, so his first priority was to find out the cost of a beer.

The trio have tickets to the second test, but will be hitting the internet to get into a few more matches.

Joanne Harrison, a migrant from Wales, had a warning for New Zealanders: "Watch out for [Lawrence] Dallaglio - he leads with his chin.

"If he can help them win the first test, the Lions will take the series."

Mrs Harrison used her girls, Emily and Rachel, as bait to try to meet her favourite player, Jonny Wilkinson

"Well, we're Welsh," said Mrs Harrison. "Rugby is our religion."