Andy Farrell’s Lions have got their hands on silverware after clinching the Test Series against the Wallabies down under, but the final showdown did not quite go to plan.
The objective was fixed and simple, secure the whitewash win. But a plucky Australia side very much had other ideas in mind.
Express Sport runs the rule over the player ratings.
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15. Hugo Keenan – Superb under the high ball in the wet and a couple of threatening breaks 6
14. Tommy Freeman – Could not get into game and taken off after taking a nasty blow to the face in first half 4
13. Huw Jones – Shifted to wing before half-time, one great take but not involved as much late on 6
12. Bundee Aki – Really well defended by the Wallabies who shut down his carrying threat at source 5
11. Blair Kinghorn – First Test start of the tour but went missing badly in defence for Jorgensen score 5
10. Finn Russell – A couple of imaginative kicks in the rain but could not get the backline going round Wallaby blitz 5
9. Jamison Gibson-Park – Had to resort to the boot in terrible conditions and one try-saving tackle 6
1. Andrew Porter – Up against it facing Taniela Tupou in scrum but held his own and loved the niggle 6
2. Dan Sheehan – Lucky to escape a card after hit on Lynagh but world’s best hooker and proved it on tour 6
3. Tadhg Furlong – Joined the greats with ninth straight Test start and battled hard at scrum-time. Legend 6
4. Maro Itoje (capt) – Brilliant tour but it didn’t last as the skipper failed an HIA after 27 minutes 5
5. James Ryan – First Lions Test start and in amongst it before getting a nasty head knock 6
6. Tadhg Beirne – Best player on this trip and at it again after having to shift to lock. Superb 7
7. Tom Curry – Must be on his last legs after heroic tour but near top of tackle charts again 7
8. Jack Conan – One huge hit on opposite number Harry Wilson and carried hard in tough night 6
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher 5 (for Sheehan 57-68), Ellis Genge 6 (for Porter 43) Will Stuart 6(for Furlong 57), Ollie Chessum 6 (for Itoje 27), Jac Morgan 7 (for Ryan 42), Ben Earl 5 (for Conan 63), Alex Mitchell 5 (for Gibson-Park 72), Owen Farrell 6 (for Freeman 37)
Australia: Tom Wright 6; Max Jorgensen 8, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 8, Len Ikitau 7, Dylan Pietsch 7; Tom Lynagh 5, Nic White 6; James Slipper 6, Billy Pollard 5, Taniela Tupou 7, Nick Frost 6, Will Skelton 9, Tom Hooper 7, Fraser McReight 7, Harry Wilson 7 (capt)
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa 5 (for Pollard 73), Angus Bell 5 (for Slipper 57), Zane Nonggorr 6 (for Tupou 60), Jeremy Williams 5 (for Skelton 64), Langi Glesson 5 (for Hooper 78), Tate McDermott 7 (for White 58), Ben Donaldson 7 (for Lynagh 33), Andrew Kelleway 5 (for Jorgensen 78)
Man of the Match: Will Skelton (AUS)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Att: 80,312