Relieved Murphy is ready to roar

LIONS full-back Geordan Murphy last night expressed his relief at avoiding a repeat of the nightmare scenario which wrecked his World Cup dream in 2003.

Murphy's running skills were expected to make him one of the stars of that tournament but the gifted Leicester full-back/threequarter was cruelly robbed of his chance before Ireland had even departed for Australia.

The 2003 Irish player of the year sustained a broken leg in a warm-up match against Scotland in September, forcing him out of the competition Down Under and into an intense period of rehabilitation.

Murphy feared a similar scenario at the Millennium Stadium on Monday night when the Lions warmed up for their tour of New Zealand against Argentina, one of the most physical sides in the game.

However, Murphy emerged from the 25-25 draw intact and was delighted to banish memories of his World Cup heartbreak.

"It was a strange match for me because of what happened in the warm-up against Scotland in the build-up to the World Cup. One of the guys reminded me that at least we were still on the plane for New Zealand," he said.

"Sunday night was worrying for me because I knew I faced a big game. It would have been easy for me to slack off and play at 80 or 90% but I didn't.

"I wouldn't have been able to look myself in the mirror had I done that. Thankfully it went well and I'm looking forward to arriving in New Zealand."

Murphy departs with the 45-strong touring party this evening but the Lions will not land in New Zealand in the buoyant mood expected following a dreadful performance against Argentina.

"It was disappointing because we didn't really play the way we wanted to," admitted Murphy. "Granted we only had three or four sessions together, but we still had a game plan. The Argentineans spoiled it and didn't let us play.

"We turned over a lot of ball in the contact area - they were excellent at poaching in midfield. We were trying to do things through three or four phases but only got through one or two.

"On occasions when we got a little bit of loose ball or were in open space we looked dangerous. But on the whole they shut us down at source. They concentrated on winning penalties and the rolling maul.

"We didn't have too many training sessions but playing matches is the best way to get to know each other. You get a better idea of the lines people take on the pitch so a couple of matches is exactly what we needed."

Jonah Lomu says the All Blacks will not be complacent despite the result against Argentina. Only an injury-time penalty from Jonny Wilkinson denied the Pumas victory at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"I think New Zealand will still be very wary," said Lomu. "There are certain things the Lions need to work on but the positives they can take is they didn't lose and Jonny Wilkinson has shown his class."