All Blacks turn on Lions spin doctor over O'Driscoll affair

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2005

WELLINGTON (AFP) — All Blacks coach Graham Henry has rounded on Lions media consultant Alastair Campbell, saying it has become Lions' policy to repeatedly raise the issue of the first Test tackle that ended Brian O'Driscoll's tour.

Describing much of what has been written about the incident as "crap", Henry could not hide his frustration that on the eve of the second Test, the injury to Lions captain O'Driscoll still dominated analysis of the All Blacks thumping 21-3 first Test victory.

"I'm sure it's all part of the policy -- Mr Campbell and his policies -- it's another person to say the same thing the next day," Henry said of Campbell, the former spin doctor for British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"I guess it's very irritating if everybody has to read that...