Campbell defends his role during Lions tour

ALASTAIR CAMPBELL has defended his role as media consultant during the British and Irish Lions’ disastrous tour to New Zealand.

The Lions were overwhelmed 3-0 in the Test series against the All Blacks this summer, but suffered further embarrassment with a number of high-profile public relations blunders.

New Zealand captain Tana Umaga was heavily criticised for a tackle on Brian O'Driscoll at Jade Park in the first Test, which has been attributed to Campbell's influence.

Campbell, the former media chief for Tony Blair, was also reported to have set up a photograph with coach Clive Woodward and Wales centre Gavin Henson to show their relationship in a favourable light.

However, Campbell insists Woodward would have approached each situation in the same way regardless of his backroom staff. He also believes he would have been received differently if the Lions were winning.

"Once the Test series started the British media started to kick in a fairly aggressive way, and not just against me," said Campbell.

"But Clive Woodward said there was nothing different he would have done had I not been there.

"It was down to Clive, the squad's lawyer and Brian O'Driscoll, who had pretty strong feelings about the whole thing, to make sure the case we were trying to make about [the Umaga affair] was properly heard.

"The New Zealand media turned on us because they thought we were attacking a national hero and the British media joined in."

Umaga's tackle on the Lions captain set the tone for the series, with the hosts winning all three Tests convincingly and the Lions falling woefully short.

Woodward was not helped by his failure to select Henson who had a successful season with RBS 6 Nations champions Wales in favour of the ageing players he had relied on to win the World Cup with England.

"These things only really took off as issues because of what was happening on the field we were losing," added Campbell on BBC Radio Five Live.

"If we had been winning there would not have been the focus on me, there would not have been the focus in the negative way that there was and the size of the squad.

"There wouldn't have been such a focus on our handling of the Umaga affair."