rugby - Cynical minds could ruin OODriscollOs career.

(From Newsletter)

BUT for the events of last weekend, this columnist would be in Wellington at time of writing so apologies if there's a hint of exasperation and bitterness in my musings.

Alastair CampbellOs presence on tour and an administrative hitch had contributed to me missing the first Test and the plan was to travel out in time for tomorrowOs second encounter.

But Brian OODriscollOs infuriating injury and the LionsO lamentably lame loss meant the plug being pulled on what would have been a tremendous trip had the tourists fronted up to make the Test series competitive.

As it is, the prospect of taking those dreaded long-haul flights into a harsh New Zealand winter with little prospect of seeing the Lions turn things around seems sufficiently unattractive that any sense of missing out is minimal.

By complete contrast, what happened last Saturday was simply devastating for Drico, who saw his dreams denied and his tour cruelly cut short in deeply unsatisfactory and cynical circumstances.

Facing the prospect of a long, hard road to recovery which may take until Christmas, OODriscoll is justifiably seething as well as deeply disappointed.