All Blacks branded 'thugs'

One Irish newspaper has branded the All Blacks "thugs" over Lions rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll's tour-ending injury on Saturday.

"Thugs!" exclaimed the headline on the back page of Ireland's Sunday World newspaper.

"O'Driscoll crocked by Kiwi hoods." it went on to say.

The Sunday Express headed it's back page report: "Was this rugby or All Black thuggery?"

They were referring to the tackle by All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu on O'Driscoll, which resulted in the Irishman suffering a dislocated shoulder.

There was just a little mention of Lions lock Danny Grewcock's two-month suspension for biting the finger of Mealamu.

The true anger among British rugby fans in Britain however seemed to be directed at Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward and his selection of so many out-of-form English players.

Roy Curtis, of Sunday World, said if the Queen was watching the 21-3 drubbing, she might have considered "stripping the bumbling fool of his knighthood".

"Woodward must open his eyes", said The Sunday Telegraph.

Former England lock Paul Ackford, writing in the Telegraph, said: "Champ or chump? It's a no brainer, Woodward's a top-notch, first rate chump."

Lions front rower Steve Thompson in a column in the Sunday Telegraph, wrote: "Without a doubt, we can still win it. The Lions are wounded, but isn't that when they are at their most dangerous?"

- nzpa