Hill has been to hell and back

He still has a vivid recollection of the moment he discovered the extent of the problem he was facing.

"After speaking to the specialist [before the operation], we agreed that should any repair work be needed, he had my agreement to go ahead and fix it," said Hill.

"I thought I would be out for six weeks. When I came round from the operation I was told that I'd had a full reconstruction, which wasn't the news I was looking for.

"I was told it would be six to nine months before I was back."

But once he was over the initial shock, Hill started to fight back. Having already returned from a serious back injury he had been in that desperate-position before. He was off crutches at the end of January and the following month headed for Vermont to team up with Knowles, who treated England stars Austin Healey and Charlie Hodgson in 2003.

When Hill arrived in North America-there seemed little hope of him making the Lions tour.

Only now, when Hill looks at photographs of before and after does he appreciate how much muscle wastage had taken place in his injured leg after the operation.

Hill said: "Bill has a tremendous work ethic and got me back up and running. When I arrived at the centre my damaged leg was four-and-a-half centimetres in circumference less than the other."

With running now a possibility, Knowles stepped up the type of work he wanted Hill to do. The flanker discovered he had suffered an injury that is common in many sports and was working alongside other damaged athletes.

"There were members of the US ski team being treated at the same time and I also trained with Dave Boston, a wide-receiver for the Miami Dolphins," said Hill.

"It was interesting for us both to compare notes on our different sports. I was able to do agility courses in the gymnastic centre, just trying to simulate movement that I would need to reproduce in rugby.

"As my range of movement improved, I was able to increase the amount of time spent on each exercise ending up with me able to step off either leg to change direction.

"I initially travelled out to Vermont with Barney Kenney, one of the England physios who was formerly at Saracens. Barney and the Sarries medical team have been hugely important in my recovery and I am grateful to everyone who has helped get me back from the injury."

It wasn't all plain sailing, however. Killington is a cold, frozen wilderness in the middle of February and it wasn't always easy to carry out the rehabilitation work he had to do.

"I had to wait for the snow plough to arrive to clear the road so that I could attend my first session," said Hill.

"There was minimal outdoor work due to the snow."

But the weather couldn't stop his progress, something head coach Woodward will be grateful for if he is fit enough to line up against the All Blacks.

He has been watching his progress closely and despite his age - he will be 32 in May - there is little doubt he will play a crucial role in New Zealand.

Unsurprisingly, Hill is still being cautious. "I am thrilled to have been picked for the Lions but I know there is a lot more hard work to do.

"The Lions is the highlight of any rugby career and New Zealand is a great country to tour. I was very unsure about my chances of making the trip when I got injured and I am fully aware that my selection is based on what I have done in the past and current fitness reports."

And his sheer bloody mindedness.