Neil is Back to fix Lions breakdown

THE British and Irish Lions are once again learning that southern hemisphere rugby is a lot different to their own brand of play.

That much has been clear from the way the tourists have struggled at the breakdown and questioned refereeing on the other side of the globe.

For veteran flanker Neil Back, though, the north-south divide also means growing accustomed to a higher public profile.

New Zealand is the land of the 'loosies', a place where All Blacks number seven Richie McCaw is a bigger icon than the immaculate fly-half Dan Carter, and where there is a national outcry when, as happened last weekend, coach Graham Henry chose to go with just one specialised openside and leave out Marty Holah.

Back is hardly an anonymous figure in British and Irish rugby circles but a poster boy he is not by any stretch of the imagination that's left to Carter's colleagues at No.10, led by the ubiquitous Jonny Wilkinson.

The Leicester Tiger is mystified by the situation. At 36, Back is the oldest Lion in history and is set to make a belated appearance on this tour in tomorrow's game against Wellington after serving his four-week ban for punching Wasps flanker Joe Worsley.

Nothing had prepared him for the idolatry which greets McCaw and his predecessors in the black No. 7 shirt.

"In the northern hemisphere we look at the number 10s," Back said, "but down here it's the sevens who are the star players and to a man they seem to know more instinctively what to do at the contact areas.

"It's about making split decisions and good decisions early on and we know we've got to win that physical battle."

The Lions spent yesterday's training session in Christchurch lowering their body positions in the contact area as they endeavoured to overcome their continuing problems at the breakdown.

Earlier on the tour, midweek coach Ian McGeechan had pointed out that this was the key to getting things right in the eyes of southern hemisphere referees but another aid to the players' education will have come with the return to availability of Back.

"It's an area the whole team needs to sort out," Back said. "Gone are the days when it was purely the seven's role. We can't play without the ball, it's better to play with quick ball and we need to concentrate on that area.

"It's not a huge problem and it is easily remedied. It's about targeting opponents before they get over the ball and clearing them out. It starts with the first man who has to get beyond the ball and ensure it is away from bodies. It's about working together and what the first man does at the ball is crucial."

Woodward certainly believes he has a much better chance of achieving that with Back in his side. "It's been disappointing we haven't been able to play Neil Back because of the incident before he left," the coach said, "but he plays on Wednesday and I think you'll see a supercharged performance from the guy. I think he's as respected round the world as McCaw and Holah."

Back said he was fit and sharp and ignoring the jibes about his advanced years. "I'm in great shape, as good as I've been and mentally I'm very focused on my job. I take it as a compliment to be doing what I'm doing at my age. I'm the oldest Lion and I'm proud of that fact."

This, though, is definitely Back's last hurrah. He joins the Leicester coaching staff on his return and the former England stalwart is determined not to bow out on a losing note.

"We were well beaten by a better team in Hamilton but don't write this team off. I have met this challenge before and come out on the winning side. Losing one game doesn't mean anything. It's about winning at least two of the three Tests."

So while in this ever-changing rugby landscape in New Zealand, Lions supporters are making red the new black and No.7 is the new 10, Neil Back is quite happy to carry on doing what he's quite good at winning.