Lions' image gets a mauling

IF MENDING fences was Clive Woodward's plan, he used the wrong hammer.

The Lions are not the most appreciated visitors to Dunedin and the Otago region this weekend, following the cancellation of their long-planned community visits to various country rugby clubs, hospitals, a Sisters of the Poor Rest Home and a hospice.

To compound the problem, Woodward yesterday attempted to soothe local feeling and at the same time attack local reporting on the matter for inaccuracy, although he didn't explain what specifically had been misreported.