Sir Clive sets the off-field work record straight

Sir Clive Woodward last night hit out at "crazy reporting" over the Lions' pulling out of off-field activities.

Amid a swirl of criticism of the Lions reneging on a variety of public events in Otago and Southland, Woodward said last night that all they had done was "rearrange" activities, shifting some from today to tomorrow.

"We'd just ask for some fair reporting of what we are doing here," he said, adding that through the rearrangements, the Lions would be doing more, rather than less, public activities.

Woodward said he disliked the term "community work", which "back home is a [judicial] sentence".

There is a view within the Lions that they are here to play rugby and that the off-field aspect is secondary, that they will fit in what they can without detracting from the main objective.

Otago Rugby Union chief executive Russell Gray is unimpressed by the Lions' attitude.

"We have been told they need to concentrate more on rugby and we're bitterly disappointed," Gray said.

Woodward is feeling the heat over predictions on the forthcoming three-match test series.

He reached back to his triumphant march to the World Cup title with England two years ago as his team's chances in the series are being widely written off.

"I feel like I did in the World Cup after we'd just got past Wales in the quarter-final and everyone was saying how France would demolish us," Woodward said.

"I was also one of the few to pick Australia to beat New Zealand. So let's just say the All Blacks are clearly red-hot favourites for this series while the Lions, against all odds and all logic, have got half a chance."