Drama of '89 can be eclipsed

This series promises even more than the last time around in 1989. That is saying something, because that series was an awesome spectacle.

Australia won the First Test pretty comfortably, but it gave no indication of what was to unfold in the next two Tests.

The Second Test saw the Lions management make some significant changes to key personnel. Some young guns were added to the backs in Jeremy Guscott and Rob Andrew - and both were to make their mark.

But it was upfront where significant implications became apparent. Names such as Wade Dooley and Mike Teague had been added to the team and that should have given us an early warning as to how they were going to play the game.

Add to these the names of Dean Richards, Dai Young, Paul Ackford and their leader Finlay Calder and you could see they were not going to make life comfortable for our pack.

However, it was the smallest man on the pitch that ignited things. Robert Jones, at the first scrum, stamped on Nick Farr-Jones's foot and they immediately started to scuffle. This served to give the Lions' heavy artillery a reason to open up on our pack and it just continued after that. Dai Young - the only man to have participated in the '89 series and make the current party - made an indelible mark. Maybe, one he is not too proud about, because it was a stamp on Stephen Cutler's head in a ruck.

No doubt he will be reminded about that when he gets to Australia. Maybe Campo can organise a dinner for Dai, so he can tell people about it! It was a tactic that worked. We lost the Second Test. Our coach Bob Dwyer, with a battle-scarred Farr-Jones sitting beside him, worked the press into a frenzy about the Lions' tactics.

The Third Test was played in much the same style. Australia had struggled into the lead with not much time remaining. It was tough work up front with very little given away by either side. The series was at stake. Then came Campo's folly.

If Campo had backed himself and just ran, as he so often did with great success, he would have beaten Evans. However, he turned and heard a call from Greg Martin, our full-back, who was trying to support him.

Campo's spontaneous decision was to throw a dreadful pass and suddenly there was manna from heaven for Evans. Test match and series over. It may be that close this time. It certainly will be a great series and I wonder who will be dining out on their success and failures when the two teams next meet.