The British and Irish Lions’ grueling 36-day tour to Australia has come to an end, leaving the team with a 2-1 victory but also a sense of disappointment and frustration. The Lions had set their sights on achieving a historic 3-0 win in the series, but ultimately fell short.
Despite having an impressive squad with world-class players like Tadhg Furlong and Maro Itoje, the team struggled to deliver its best performance. They were out-battled and out-played by the Wallabies in several games, and it was only their resilience and determination that led them to victory.
The Lions’ captain, Dan Sheehan, quoted scripture to describe the team’s mindset, saying “it’s a special thing.” However, the team’s exhaustion and devastation after each loss were evident, particularly after the final game where they had a chance to seal the series but ultimately missed out.
One of the key factors that contributed to the Lions’ frustration was the weight of their achievement. They had publicly talked about wanting to be remembered as one of the greatest Lions teams, but 2-1 does not quite cut it in legacy terms.
The Wallabies were also undercooked and underplayed by coach Schmidt, who rested several of his top players ahead of the first Test. This strategy backfired as the Lions took advantage of the Wallabies’ weakness to win the series.
The tour was marked by remarkable performances from individual players like Furlong and Itoje, but ultimately it was not enough to carry the team to victory. The Lions will return home with memories of their successes, but also a sense of what could have been if they had delivered on their promise.
Their legacy is now uncertain, and it remains to be seen how they will be remembered in history. Despite the disappointment, the tour will be remembered as a testament to the bravery and resilience of the Lions players, who faced one of the toughest tests of their careers.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cp8zkwl6x1xo