Andy Farrell hinted he would be open to having another crack as Lions boss despite seeing his side lose their unbeaten record down under. Farrell side won the series 2-1 but went down 22-12 to Australia yesterday in the final Test in Sydney in a game delayed by lightning.
Farrell has never lost a Lions series he has been involved with, he was assistant to Warren Gatland in the win over the Wallabies in 2013 and the drawn series with the All Blacks four years after. So, he has unfinished business with the New Zealanders who will host the Lions in 2029 and might fancy continuing his love affair with the tourists.
Farrell said: “Everyone knows what I think about this concept so that says it all. I absolutely love everything the Lions is about. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last eight weeks, there are always ups and always downs but the inner circle is a special place to be.”
The Lions won the series but did not claim the whitewash they had talked about all tour – but Farrell insisted his side will look back with pride on what they have achieved.
“There is going to frustration there,” he said. “We said all along we wanted to win every game but the best team won on the night today. I have just said to the lads on reflection it might take one, it might take two, beers but they will be unbelievably proud of what they achieved throughout this tour.
“We all know how hard it is to be successful on a Lions tour against a good side like Australia, and they are a good side.”
The match was interrupted for 38 minutes because of a lightning threat with teams both having to retreat to the dressing rooms and some spectators evacuated from the ground. Farrell, who has been in professional rugby since was a teenager, had never seen anything like it before.
He added: “Rigor mortis was setting in at one stage there for the lads. We have seen it all now haven’t we? We were trying to work out what the rules were and what was going to happen.
“There were updates constantly coming in but the lads stayed relaxed enough, had five minutes of a warm-up and got the show back on the road. What came off the back of that is Australia hit the ground running and thoroughly deserved their win.”