Woodward stands by Lions' tour schedule

Lions coach Clive Woodward launched a vigorous defence of his "community" plan after arriving to check training facilities for this year's tour of New Zealand.

At a media briefing in Auckland yesterday Woodward said the professional era demanded a hard edge to beat the All Blacks and protect the Lions' future.

Woodward said he would bring a powerful and fresh squad to New Zealand for the June-July tour. Over-worked English players were now well rested.

He added, however, that a large tour party and limited provincial forays were vital to reduce wear and tear as the Lions sought a second series victory here.

"Senior players look back to the good old days. I played in the good old days and to me they weren't that good. I think today's fantastic," the famously acerbic Woodward said.

He also took a dig at the organisation of the Graham Henry-coached 2001 Lions in Australia, who lost 2-1.

"One of the worst things in 2001 was a couple of players came back from Australia saying they never wanted to go on a Lions tour again," said Woodward, who is here until Saturday.

Woodward has been criticised by the Waikato and Bay of Plenty unions because the Lions will send the playing team to provinces only the day before matches, with the other players arriving on match day for community activities.

Those unions wanted a "traditional tour" and Waikato say match day activities are a "waste of time".

But Woodward got support yesterday, with Taranaki chief executive Paul Easton saying: "Two or three days with them would have been nice, but we'll run with what we've got ... the logistics of the tour are enormous."

Woodward said he is committed to the Lions meeting the public, and his media strongman Alastair Campbell - British Prime Minister Tony Blair's former communications chief - will run major open days in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Woodward was proud of the effort being made to meet and greet in the provinces and believed those activities would help create a happy touring party.

But he would not indulge the provinces at the expense of his main aim - to win the three-test series.

England's World Cup-winning coach, a former Lions player, predicted at least 25,000 British fans would arrive, creating the exciting prospect of "organised chaos".

He pre-empted questions by making a 15-minute statement on the community policy, tour party size and merit-based referees.

Woodward will bring 26 staff and up to 44 players. Ian McGeechan will coach the mid-week team, which will include some test players.

"If we are going to be successful we will have to be the best prepared Lions team ever," he said.

"To come to this part of the world and play 11 full-on matches in seven weeks and expect to do it how we used to is just not acceptable. And the 2001 Lions ended up using 45 players.

"I don't think what I've done is too radical ... but if I hadn't put in some of this organisation I think some big-name players would have said 'I won't be going'.

"The 2001 Lions went to Australia with the strongest ever and they lost, and what I picked up about that tour was there was a lot of travelling. It wasn't the happiest tour ... everyone came back absolutely knackered.

"I wasn't expecting a fanfare welcome at the airport, but I think we've almost over-delivered in this [community] aspect. In 1983 I can't remember doing a single community thing. The 2001 Lions party did not have one single community event."