England scrum-half Matt Dawson has
tried to defuse the controversy over his stinging attack on the management of the British and Irish Lions.

Dawson told BBC Sport Online's Web site he would meet tour officials later on
Sunday to clarify the situation."I need to talk to the management and until I do so it's very difficult to say anything about it," he said."The last thing I want to do is upset team morale."

Dawson could be sent back home if the Lions' management decides he has
broken his contract by accusing New Zealand coach Graham Henry of treating
players like children and running an overly harsh regime.

Lions manager Donal Lenihan said they would be meeting to discuss the
matter."It pains me even thinking about it, because making sure the squad is a
happy and successful one is so high on my agenda," he said. "As far as comments about the spirit in the squad, you just need to look at the team performance.We did all our talking on the rugby pitch."

Dawson was on the bench on Saturday when the Lions routed Australia 29-13 in the first of three Tests.The 28-year-old who has played 41 times for England said the Lions' tour had been beset by problems, with internal disagreements and splits in the squad widespread.

Dawson, one of the heroes of the Lions' victorious tour to South Africa in 1997, said many of the squad believed the tourists were being pushed too hard
and were not enjoying the tour.

Lions captain Martin Johnson dismissed the criticism."It's been hard. There have been grumbles from a few players but all that effort's worth it when you get a win like that."

England flanker Richard Hill backed up his skipper."It was always going to be tough. The main objective was to win the Test series," he said."Players have got to realise that they've got to make sacrifices, whether that's socially, or that they've got to go that extra yard in training.We realise we haven't seen as much of Australia as we maybe could have but, like I say, at the end of the day we're here to do a job, and tonight
probably speaks volumes for the character of the squad.When you train hard you're pushing yourself to your physical peak and sometimes you have to take a step back and re-evaluate what you're here for.That's what the squad has had to do and tonight was a tremendous effort."

Wales scrum-half Rob Howley, who kept Dawson, on the bench agreed."The intensity increased this week but we knew how important it was," said the man who lost out to Dawson in 1997 when he dislocated his shoulder.