A team in union so crucial to success

Possibly the greatest achievement of the 2005 Lions was not having the players fall into open dissension.

That may be more to do with the gagging order preventing players from dishing the dirt until mid-November. Some problems, though, became obvious.

Sir Clive and his Irish assistant Eddie O'Sullivan clearly didn't get on. The body language gave it away, as did the Irish media who were full of gossip that their national coach had been ostracised from the top table.

O'Sullivan could regularly be seen tucked in a quiet corner whispering conspiratorially in the ear of Irish journalists.

There were murmurings, too, that Ian McGeechan wasn't best pleased at being left in the dark about what side Woodward was planning to pick for the first test.

Then there was Andy Robinson. A sullen, brooding man who allegedly changed the lineout codes before the first test. Some players have privately divulged negative opinions on Robinson. They say they didn't receive much in the way of feedback about their performances. The same thing happened in 2001 when a handful of dirt-trackers returned from Australia with a none too complimentary opinion of Robinson.

For all the censored player columns promoting a harmonious group, there were often tell-tale signs that not everyone was mixing the way management wanted.

The latest example was Welshmen Gavin Henson, Shane Williams and Gareth Cooper "on the lash" in Queenstown on Friday, who were allegedly so affected by Queenstown's offerings that they were spotted in a bar at 8am and had to be helped to make their flight back to Auckland. While this is hardly the most significant of "crimes", it does nonetheless point to a lack of unity and a split into national groups.

In Christchurch, on the Sunday before the first test, Andy Sheridan, Andy Titterell and Jason Robinson, all team-mates at Sale, lunched together. Gareth Thomas, Michael Owen, Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones and Tom Shanklin - all Welshmen - enjoyed a coffee in each other's company.

It was a day off, a time to bond with new people, and yet many of the party chose to stay with who they knew.

Much has been made of the fact the squad didn't share hotel rooms. It would have helped forge closer relationships which in turn build unity and comradeship on the pitch. The only room-sharing on tour came in the final weeks and it was done with wives and partners.

Sources close to the camp suggested that on one occasion a team member's children ran amok in the team room during a pre-match meeting.

Some individuals will feel they have had a fair go from all the coaches and that they made some new friends. Others will return having had an unhappy rugby experience but a reasonably good time off the field.

And others - how many will only become clear in November - will return having had a miserable time on and off the pitch and will be full of vitriol.

Some big picture issues obviously need to be addressed, such as the quality of opposition and number of games. All Black coach Graham Henry got everyone thinking when he pondered how successful these Lions would have been if they had to front a couple of Super 12 sides as well as full-strength NPC teams. He was making the point that a few really tough encounters before the tests would have been no bad thing for the tourists.

The Lions are welcome in New Zealand any time. The country has loved having them here. Sir Clive has come in for some major flak - although that could be partly a sign of the respect in which he is held.

That respect was won because he went from Clive to Sir Clive as a result of learning from his mistakes. If the Lions are ever to return to these shores, it's up to everyone associated with the concept to do the same and learn from Clive's mistakes.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY