Farrell’s triumph….

….is parroted in the news section. So the combined might of the 3rd/4th and 8th ranked rugby teams, defeated the 6th team. But only because of a shocking refereeing decision. Hardly a triumph. More rugby hype for the undiscriminating fan.

What the series really calls into question is whether the sometimes predicted WC win in 2027 by an NH team will take longer than the 24 year gap since the 03 Pom win,

Australia’s resurgence on the shoulders of vets like White, Tupou and Skelton could be short lived. Absent Skelton would the Aussies have been that competitive?

But Bok fans should be asking themselves the same question, absent Pollard, Ox and particularly Eben would we be WC winners. If 3 Aussies made that much difference could the absence of three Boks have an equal but opposite effect.

The "dead rubber" excuse for the 3rd test is in from the Lions supporters, and maybe there's some truth to it, maybe they just wanted to get it over and done with and go home. What they have achieved should that be the case though is to ensure that the last images of this series are of the Aussies battering them into submission, of Blair Kinghorn throwing his arms up hopelessly and switching off after succumbing to the attentions of Suaalii even as Jorgenson, hungry and alert, was collecting his wayward pass to sprint away and score.

A highly contentious referee call now becomes the point of balance for the series.

The first test is far in the past and the discerning rugby fan is left entertaining no aura of domination or awe around this Lions side - and if there were some calls of capitulation when Wilson kicked the ball dead at the end of the first test when Australia were under the gun on their own tryline with the game already lost, what say those same pundits about the Lions effort in the third test? Sir Clive, anything?

The dead rubber excuse probably went away with the contentious nature of the second test win…the Lions have to have felt pressure to bury that controversy. They were simply outplayed, especially in the lineouts

Comments from Sheehan for example after the game would seem to support that as well. After stating that their aim from the start was a 3-0 sweep:

"It is disappointing to be honest. It's not what we wanted tonight and it leaves a bit of a sour taste."

Ox is only 29 he is going nowhere for a while

Sacha will prove even better than Pollard

There is no substitute for Eben

Whether it’s Eben—or what remains of him—he’s almost certainly on the plane.

Alun Wyn Jones was played until he was just a zombie corpse crawling around the field, as was the case with Duane Vermeulen. Alun Wyn Jones play 170 test (158 for Wales and 12 for the B&I Lions).

Eben is on 133 tests.

Eben been noticeably quieter this year, not in the same league as his peak form. Injuries have undoubtedly taken their toll, so we’ll have to wait until the Four Nations to see what level he’s still at. Older players always carry that question mark—especially after recovering from injury and being out of sight and mind.

My Impression is Eben’s a little less muscular than he was at his peak. Still super human, but a bit less so.