AS THE British & Irish Lions lost the final Test of their series against New Zealand 38-19 in Auckland yesterday, their controversial media consultant, Alastair Campbell, was accused of deliberately misrepresenting the Welsh centre Gavin Henson.

After Henson’s shock omission from the squad for the first Test two weeks ago, Campbell — without Henson’s knowledge — arranged for a picture to be taken of head coach Sir Clive Woodward and the player chatting, by a hidden photographer with a zoom lens. The picture, taken after a closed training session in Christchurch, was widely used in British newspapers and helped to defuse the controversy and head off any rumours of discord caused by Woodward’s decision not to select Henson.

Last night Peter Underhill, Henson’s agent, confirmed that Henson did not know he was being photographed. Campbell was equivocal in an interview with The Sunday Times when asked if Henson knew he was part of a staged picture. Not so Henson.

“He was not aware of there being a photographer at all, and he was not briefed,” Underhill said.

Mike James, the chairman of Henson’s club, Neath-Swansea Ospreys, said: “That’s disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful. It is certainly misrepresentation, it’s not spin — it’s beyond it. I cannot believe that they would do that with a bloke in the midst of his disappointment at missing Test selection.”

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement of the Test squad, the Lions issued quotes from Henson expressing his solidarity with the party. But no quotes were issued from any of the other omitted players, and the tone of Henson’s alleged reaction was belied within 48 hours, when he expressed his dismay at missing out on the Test squad to journalists.

Legendary former Lions and Wales full-back JPR Williams was scathingly critical of the Lions management. “I suspect that everyone knows I wasn’t too pleased at having so many people on tour, but to have a spin doctor, Alastair Campbell, wearing a Lions shirt is really rubbing your nose in it. I’m very proud of being a Lion — and it’s actually been demeaned.”

Campbell has come in for considerable criticism on tour, notably for his approach to the incident in which Brian O’Driscoll, the Lions captain, was injured in an incident involving All Black counterpart Tana Umaga. Campbell helped fan the flames of the controversy at daily media conferences. Many observers felt that this gave considerable motivation to the All Blacks. This latest alleged manipulation will again raise questions about Woodward’s judgment in appointing him.