Lions Diary: I know we're all in the Lions camp, but if you took off your Lions cap for a minute you'd have to say the All Blacks were good to watch. They just blew us off the park in probably every area.

It was a bit of an eye-opener to see how good and athletic they are. Their forwards' skill level is incredible, and the all-round talent of their players is a great spectacle.

The game here appears to have moved on and when you see the quality of player they have, I think we need to look at that in Ireland.

The fitness levels of their forwards seem to be incredible, and as for their skill levels, they all seem to be comfortable throwing miss passes off either hand.

They don't run into people, they run into space. It's a very easy game to play when you have those capabilities within your team, and it's something we need to look at in the Munster and Ireland games.

If we can mix a bit of their offload game into what we have in Ireland - because defensively we're very good, our kicking game is good, our passing game is very strong - but if we could develop that continuity between backs and forwards we could be a very good side.

Gareth Thomas has been a good skipper. He's a very popular, likeable fella. He isn't your average rugby gentleman. He reminds me of Trev (Trevor Brennan)- very likeable, very positive, very upbeat and plays with a smile.

He enjoys it and he's very lighthearted. It's nice to see somebody like that at the top level of sport getting the captaincy of the Lions. He's a hugely popular figure within the camp and took his try really well.

The first Test was very disappointing because we didn't perform and no-one shone. This time fellas tried their best and felt they performed, but just felt they were outclassed.

For the Midweek Massive, the game against Auckland was like a Test, and there's been a buzz in the team. Fordie (Mike Ford) has been impressive on this tour, as have Gareth Jenkins and Ian McGeechan. There's been a good bond there. They give you a small framework to play with and then you're allowed go out and express yourself.

Initially I was told I would get 40 minutes so I was keen to make an impact, but luckily I got 60 minutes and it went well. Keeping the Midweek Massive's unbeaten run was important, definitely, and Auckland had a lot of players who had played for the All Blacks. There were more or less 47,500 in Eden Park on Tuesday night and there was a good atmosphere.

The best part of this trip has been playing. Everybody wants to play.

Obviously you need a big squad to cover the numbers and it couldn't have been done any differently. The most enjoyable of all was probably the last 60 against Auckland and most of all the last 10 minutes of that game. I've been in that position before with Munster and kicked a couple into the corners and kicked a pressure goal. The worst was just not being involved in the Tests.

The best quote of the tour was from Gareth Jenkins: "You've got to blow them and bang them like they've never been blown and banged before."

I've enjoyed the tour. It would frustrate me more if I hadn't been playing well and not knocking on the door. I'm 28, the next one is in four years, but I don't even want to think about it, to be honest.

I'll definitely be a better player for the experience. I've been impressed again with Dave Alred. He's been great to work with.

There's nothing really that's let me down except the defence and the first half against Bay of Plenty. I've just got to have the mindset in defence that it's a dogfight out there.

I've enjoyed it though. Four years ago the Lions tour was great because I learnt so much and was among fellas I was in awe of basically. But this time I've felt more among equals, especially with the likes of (Lawrence) Dallaglio, (Richard) Hill and Brian (O'Driscoll) injured. They were probably our three best players.

With Jonny (Wilkinson) and Charlie (Hodgson) ruled out, I'd be very disappointed not to be in the Test 22 on Saturday. It would be nice to be involved.

Either way, I'm heading home at 9am, check-in at 6.30am. With so much luggage and baggage, it would be easier to head home and start your holidays from Ireland, as opposed to trying to start from this side of the world.

It could take me months, and I only have four weeks' holidays from this Saturday. I don't know where we'll go. Somewhere hot. I need sun now, and just relax and kick back.

(In an interview with Gerry Thornley)