Lions touch down for "huge tour"
Lions Tour
June 2, 2001

The enormity of the task facing the Lions was brought home to the touring party when they landed Perth today ahead of the series against Australia.

Flight SQ223 was just 10 minutes late and the squad had to be decontaminated to prevent them inadvertently importing foot and mouth disease but otherwise the trip had gone smoothly and the players were met by a barrage of reporters having cleared customs.

Captain Martin Johnson said the pressure felt by the players and coaching staff was greater than before the last Lions tour which resulted in a shock 2-1 series win in South Africa in 1997.

``There is a lot more expectation on this tour than there was in '97, but that's what we've got to deal with,'' Johnson told Sky Sports.com TV.

The Wallabies are doing their best to increase those expectations, claiming that the Lions will start the series as slight favourites.

They fear that if they have to do without inspirational fly-half Stephen Larkham, who is susceptible to injury, they would be in trouble against the tourists.

Wallabies selector Andrew Slack said: ``Hand on heart, I think the Lions will start favourites.''

Johnson backed his side's chances of doing well against the Aussies. ``There's enough talent there,'' he said. ``It's about getting that time together on the field, and getting the team spirit going and the will to win.''

Lions coach Graham Henry, a Kiwi in charge of the Welsh national side, knows how large a task is ahead of his touring party.

Henry said: ``It's enormous, isn't it? In Wales you're playing for two-and-a-half-million people. In Auckland, when we go to Auckland, there's a million people in Auckland - and this team represents about 80 million people, so that's enormous.''

Lions manager Donal Lenihan also acknowledged the size of the task ahead for the players from Britain and Ireland. ``Everyone is raring to go, a bit tired after the flight. It's going to be a huge tour,'' he warned.

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