"Turning point" - 5 disappointing Lions who underachieved on tours

Whether it be a touring ending injury, personal issues or a poor performance, there are a number of reasons why players don't quite live up to the hype.

Here, RUCK feature writer Jon Henderson ranks his five 'most disappointing' Lions from down the years.

The legendary England captain's career included the 1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand.

He underachieved on that tour, a pattern attributed by coach Ian McGeechan and manager Geoff Cooke as at least partly due to his failing to secure the captaincy (this instead going to Gavin Hastings of Scotland) but also due in large part to the ascendency in the centre of both Jeremy Guscott and Scott Gibbs of Wales.

McGeechan and Cooke disclosed that Carling came close to voluntarily withdrawing from the squad; he did however recover his test place and played a notable role in the third test.

McGeechan commented in his autobiography that Carling's failure to rise to the occasion as a Lion (in contrast to Guscott) may be seen by some as the difference between his legacy as a good player and a great player.

Robinson was chosen for the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, and was one of the outstanding players in the side that won the first Test in Brisbane 29–13. In that game he sidestepped past Australian fullback Chris Latham. He went on to score another try in the last Test.

Four years later, with Robinson playing a key role as England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the speedster was tipped to be a key cog for Woodward once again. He was somewhat the face of the promotional campaign for the tour, appearing on awful merchandise such as this.

However, having joined the tour late to attend the birth of his fifth child, something just didn't seem right. Robinson, who usually always travelled with his full family was forced to jet across to the other side of the world alone. Playing in two of the three tests, he never looked close to his best and has admitted since he still 'has nightmares' about the tour.

Distraught from the experience, Robinson actually retired from test rugby before changing his mind to play for England once again in the 2007 Six Nations before playing a key role in their journey to the World Cup final that same year.

After touring with the Lions in Australia four years previously, the Scotland fullback was tipped to be one of Warren Gatland's key men when they faced the All Blacks in 2017.

However, starting against NZ Provincial Barbarians in the tour opener, Hogg was given a four out of 10 after he made 'many errors' and butchered a simple try scoring pass to Anthony Watson in a poor display.

One week later, despite a much improved opening 20 minutes, Hogg was injured after being caught by the elbow of team-mate Conor Murray in an accidental collision, with the superstar departing the tour before the start of the Test Matches.

More down to the pre-tour hype than his poor performance alone, this was so disappointing. Hopefully, after being selected in the 2021 squad, Hogg can finally win a cap.

By no fault of his own.

O'Driscoll appeared in all three British and Irish Lions Tests on the team's 2001 tour of Australia where he announced himself as a world star with an outstanding individual try in the 1st Test victory at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Four years later, the centre was named captain of the team for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. O'Driscoll's playing contribution to the 2005 Lions ended in the opening minutes of the first Test against the All Blacks in Christchurch on 25 June 2005, when he was carried off the field on a stretcher with a shoulder injury just after being spear tackled in tandem by All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu after the ball had been cleared out of a ruck. The incident is better known now as 'Speargate'.

Although not Irishman's fault, to lose a superstar so early was gutting for supporters. He'd go onto make up for it, representing and starring for the tourists in another two tours.

The second test against Australia, on 7 July, saw the Lions lose 35–14 at the Docklands Stadium.

Wilkinson was blamed by many for throwing a long pass inside his 22 that was intercepted by Joe Roff: this was seen as the turning point not only in the match, but the test series.

During the match, Wilkinson injured his leg and was stretchered off the pitch. The injury was thought to be particularly serious, but he made a full recovery before the Third and final test on 14 July.