1 month ago
19
It wasn't a great night for the Lions and, man for man, there is not one of their players who could say they got the better of their opposite number. In the first Test, every single Lions player was better than every Australian player, but this time it was completely the other way round. There can't be any excuses for that because there was a lot at stake for the Lions, but Australia won hands-down.
How will this tour be remembered? A lot of it depends on the outcome and there's no doubt they will have slipped down the pecking order a bit because of how it went in this last Test.
The top Lions teams in years like 1974 and 1997 had all-time great players like Willie John McBride, Martin Johnson and Gareth Edwards. They were the world's outstanding players. In this Lions tour, I don't think you would look at any one player and think: 'Wow, that player would get into any team in the world. Would they be picked by South Africa or by New Zealand.'
That is how Lions teams are remembered, as well as for their results – how many of the players are truly global superstars. I'm not sure if there are too many, if we're being brutally honest. So, I don't think this Lions team can be seen in the same bracket as the best ones like 1974 or 1997.
But a series win has always got to be applauded, so big congratulations to Andy Farrell and Maro Itoje for that. Their lights are shining bright and Andy should be looking to do the head coach job again in 2029 in New Zealand, because he's done a good job.
I think the Lions should come back to Australia in 12 years' time. I'd be in favour of leaving the tours rotation as it is, but with an asterisk about making sure all the tour games are high-quality, with Test players allowed to represent their franchises against the Lions. Some of the tour games this year were not up to the right standard and a country like Fiji deserve a chance to take on the Lions.
Australia were deserved winners over the British & Irish Lions in Saturday's third and final Test
Despite losing 22-12 in Sydney, the Lions still celebrated after winning the Test series 2-1
Lions captain Maro Itoje deserves credit for leading his side to an impressive series victory
Australia didn't turn up in the first Test and this time, the Lions weren't at the races. There have to be question marks about why, because they had said the right things about wanting to win 3-0.
They prepared properly and selected properly, but they got thumped.
The Aussies will be seething when they look back at being 23-5 up in the second Test but going on to lose on the whistle. But what has really come out of this series is that Australia really are becoming a good team again.
They have some outstanding players and two years out from a home World Cup, they will look at the last two Tests and think they are definitely heading in the right direction.
Both their wingers were very good and they've got a really strong back line, especially considering that they were missing their first-choice 10, who wasn't fit. History will look on this Lions series as when Australia started to really build an exciting young team.
Will Skelton added so much to the Wallabies and it does make you wonder why he wasn't picked for that first Test. Just his personality and energy give them another dimension. The Lions lost the first scrum in this game – with a penalty awarded to Australia – and I just thought: 'Woah! That's not what I was expecting.' That shows the impact made by Skelton and also by Taniela Tupou.
The Lions will be disappointed with how it went in this game, because they had a really good side out but they just didn't play. I know the conditions were appalling, but the Lions weren't as clinical in the circumstances as Australia were. The breakdown was a problem area for them and Jac Morgan proved once again what a good player he is in that area when he came on.
It's another 2-1 Lions series and, overall, that was the right result, but it just feels a bit flat, like after a 0-0 draw in football. It was strange seeing the trophy presentation after they had lost the game.
Head coach Andy Farrell should also be praised for this role in this summer's tour success
Taniela Tupou set the tone as the Wallabies dominated up front in Saturday's third Test match
Will Skelton, pictured celebrating with fans, friends and family after the game, was also superb
It's not easy receiving a trophy when you've just lost a game and been well beaten. It reminded me of when we went for the Grand Slam in Scotland, lost the game there but had won the Six Nations title so Matt Dawson had to go up and collect the trophy from Princess Anne.
Huw Jones probably stood out as my player of the series, but he had to go to the wing in the second half and it didn't suit him. He's a centre and it is a problem when a risk is taken by having only two backs on the bench. It is a huge risk.
Having a six-two split didn't work for the Lions in this game – Owen Farrell came on, but he's not as good in the centre as Huw Jones. I thought Bundee Aki had a quiet game as well and made a lot of errors. When someone like him takes the ball up, you don't expect him to keep losing the ball in contact.
But overall a big well done to everyone involved for the Lions, especially Coach and Captain – Lions deserved the series success but Australia definitely deserved the win.
