- guardian.co.uk, Sunday July 1 2001 10.43 BST
The Test has just ended. I can't really believe it. It was an unbelievable performance by a great set of lads. Am I really saying that? Of course I am. That was fantastic.
The whole bloody night was fantastic. The crowd, for a start. Martin Johnson came back after tossing the coin and said, 'Lads, this is going to be like a home game out there.'
Not that we knew until we went out. For the first time on tour we warmed up indoors. Instead of going out and spreading out we stuck together like flies on a steaming jock strap. Very intimate, very concentrated. It was spot on. You knew that the lads were mentally sharp.
So, how did we do it? I can only tell you so much. I've always said we'd have to do something special to win and I must say I've had plenty of worries that we were going to be too ... straight. But when it counted the team came good.
Certain individuals shone. As if you need me to tell you. Jason Robinson was awesome. He danced with death on that touchline and went in for that early try. I've always said that he was our best chance of providing that something extra but I had to rub my eyes when he scored so early. Not just the try, but that the ball had gone to him. Brilliant.
Brian O'Driscoll was exceptional. His try was even better. Do you think there has ever been a better solo effort by a Lion in a Test match? Possibly, but this was against a side with the best defence in the history of the game.
And Rob Henderson was sensational. To outbatter the batterers was stunning. Literally, I suppose if you were in the Aussie shoes.
It's been a hard week in a hard tour. You know I've had my moans, but I tell you something. It's been good to let off steam. It sort of makes you feel better, so you can go back to the slog. And nights like this make that slog seem worthwhile.
I suppose I should men tion Martin Johnson, but what is there left to say about Johnno that hasn't been said before. He's been immense, but we even take that for granted. It's been a tough week for him as much as anybody, what with the injuries and Anton [Anton Toia, a Lions liaison officer] dying. But it was as if we knew that out of all the grief, Johnno would raise himself to a new level. Something happened to him after the fight game last Saturday and he just became more determined to pull the team together.
I know you're still waiting for me to get to the game-plan. And what specifically went right and wrong. Well, I can't, except to say that getting the ball to Jason in the second minute definitely was not in the script. Just goes to show, eh? And I can't go into more detail because there are things that must remain hidden. Because there's a long way to go yet.
I bet you think I'm going to say that Graham Henry was upset because the lads had broken a rule by passing the ball to Jason. Well, no. He had a grin the size of whatever is very, very big. It came as a bit of a shock. The grin, that is. Haven't seen him do that too often.
But beware. Australia can't play that badly again. We all know that. But the main thing is that after all the bad bits of this tour - and I must say that there is still a split regarding the treatment of the midweek team - we are suddenly conscience of what touring is all about. Nights like this.
Playing games on a Tuesday is not easy. There's no time to give the dirt-trackers the sense that they are part of this short tour, too. But as long as Saturday nights can be like this, then even I will have to grin and bear it.
Of course, it could get better. How about this for a secret weapon? Let me go on. I know I can't get in the starting line-up after this win. A place on the bench will have to do. I was dying to go out there and have a go. But it wasn't a night for me. It was one for the others. They were brilliant. Am I really saying that? Don't worry, my normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. But, hey, what a win.
