Woodward learns lesson of 2001 failures Down Under

LIONS boss Clive Woodward has studied the failings of the 2001 tour to Australia in a bid to mastermind victory over the revered All Blacks next summer.

Graham Henry, the former Wales and current New Zealand coach, presided over a 2-1 series defeat by the Wallabies three years ago in a tour marred by off-field controversy which almost resulted in Matt Dawson being sent home early.

Dawson and England colleague Austin Healey broke ranks to slam Henry’s management style in their respective newspaper columns, while many of those players not involved in the Test matches later revealed they endured a miserable time in Australia.