McGeechan says Lions tour 'too short'

Long-time Lions coach Ian McGeechan bowed out a winner last night and said the current tour was at least a week too short as the test side desperately look to save face on Saturday.

Scotsman McGeechan, in part of his sixth Lions tour as either player or coach, guided his midweek team through unbeaten with a tense 17-13 win over Auckland at a packed Eden Park.

A penalty from replacement Ronan O'Gara with four minutes left sealed the win as Auckland's speedy backs threw everything at the final quarter.

While Clive Woodward's test side are playing for pride only in Saturday's third test after two heavy losses, the midweekers were ecstatic to win five from five.

"I'm hugely proud of a group of players who played their hearts out," McGeechan said.

"We knew they were the best provincial side we would come up against -- they can attack you one on one -- and it was just a complete team effort in the second half to stop them."

McGeechan confirmed it was his swansong, "unless they bring coaches over in wheelchairs".

Having guided the team to a test series victory in South Africa in 1997, McGeechan hoped for at least an extra week on the 2009 edition back in the republic.

"You need a minimum number of games leading into the first test and we were probably two games short of that here," he said.

"It certainly helped in 1997 to have that extra time to put combinations together, and it is the balance leading up to the first test that's the critical one because you're pulling four groups of players together.

"The extra week gives you that fighting chance."

Despite the predictable rumours of ructions in the squad, and feelings of discontent among the Welsh contingent, McGeechan said it was a "very happy team, outstanding in their approach".

Veteran Lions halfback Matt Dawson, a standout in just his second start of the tour last night, agreed.

"It's another huge lift for us tonight. It would have been easy for people to write us off and say we couldn't be bothered, lose to Auckland and it's the worst tour ever, whatever it is being written about us," Dawson said.

"We've sent a message as a squad we'll be taking the weekend very seriously."

Dawson, whose only start on his third Lions tour was in the loss to New Zealand Maori in Hamilton, put his hand up highest for a final hurrah on Saturday.

Behind a dominant forward pack, especially in the lineouts as Auckland failed dismally on their first half throw-ins, Dawson's quick thinking and defence was an important part.

He set up their only try just before halftime to livewire flanker Martyn Williams after a break from wing Mark Cueto, and with Williams saved a certain first half try when prop John Afoa was held up in goal.

Dawson admitted the two tests behind Wales' Dwayne Peel had been hard work.

"I want to start like every other player, I want the No 9 on my back. I will support the squad wherever I'm picked but I don't want to be finishing my career in the next couple of years known as someone who's on the bench.

"It was a big game for me tonight."

Thanks to their forwards, led by big mobile lock Simon Shaw, the Lions should have pulled away after leading 14-3 at halftime.

But Auckland fought back as their backs found gaps and wing Isa Nacewa scored after fine leadup work from Tasesa Lavea and Ben Atiga to make it 14-13 with 15 minutes left.

Meanwhile, the tour had an unhappy end for one of the Lions' best backs, first five-eighth Charlie Hodgson, who departed with breathing problems after taking a heavy hit at the 20 minute mark.

- NZPA