Sports Letters: Travails of a tour of duty

Sir: Regarding your article headed 'Toughest tour in prospect' (18 May). There has been much press coverage about the tough itinerary facing the British Lions in New Zealand. When the All Blacks came here on a hastily arranged tour in 1983, they played eight top-class representative sides between 26 October and 19 November. Their last match was against England, which they lost. Their tour result was: won 5, drawn 1 and lost 2. After the England game I was at the reception held at the Guildhall. In his after-dinner speech, Stu Wilson, the All Blacks captain, made reference to the comments in the British press about the toughness of the tour. Wilson waved this aside by saying that 'we are All Blacks - we will play anybody, anywhere at anytime. If you don't like heat, don't go into the kitchen.' I hope the Lions adopt the same attitude.

Yours faithfully,

J C ANDERSON

Epsom

19 May