More complaints from Lions

The Lions are to complain to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) about the shortage of medical back-up during the first test in Christchurch to attend to injured captain Brian O'Driscoll, according to Britain's Guardian newspaper.

A report today said there was a 15-minute delay before O'Driscoll was given morphine to ease the pain of his dislocated shoulder in Christchurch last Saturday.

O'Driscoll suffered the tour-ending injury in the second minute of the match when he was cleaned out off the ball by All Blacks Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu.

In addition to O'Driscoll having to wait for the morphine, the report said there was only one ambulance available at Jade Stadium because a male spectator had earlier suffered a fatal heart attack.

A Lions spokesperson said the tourists' medical staff fully sympathised with the family of the deceased but were "surprised" at the lack of adequate back-up facilities which led to the subsequent delay in treating O'Driscoll.

Also, the Lions will also make clear their unhappiness at the unsportsmanlike behaviour of a section of the crowd during the test, which the tourists lost 3-21.

The non-playing Lions players were unimpressed by the hostile attitude of some home fans seated nearby who taunted them and flicked V-signs at them.

One Lions player said home supporters had banged their fists on the sides of the team bus and shouted obscenities.

Local police made 18 arrests on the night of the game, mostly for assault and disorder. None of those arrested was a Lions supporter.

"There was a certain amount of disbelief because that's not something we would expect at a rugby match in New Zealand," the spokesperson said.

The Lions were on the brink of filing an official complaint after the test and said they would air their Christchurch concerns in the end-of-tour report they will present to the NZRU.

The Lions were to also express reservations about the initial stadium medical care received by injured No 8 Lawrence Dallaglio during the opening game against Bay of Plenty at Rotorua.

Dallaglio was hoisted on to a golf cart after dislocating his right ankle and breaking his fibula but the cart proved too big to transport him beneath the stand for treatment, forcing Lions' medical staff to make alternative arrangements.

- NZPA