- guardian.co.uk, Sunday July 15 2001 13.00 BST
So, no fairy tale. That would have been asking too much of a tour built on cold analysis, cold reality and, unfortunately, cold shoulder. One last cold fact stood out: in none of the three Tests did the British and Irish Lions Lions manage to score a single point in the last quarter. Leads changed, patterns altered, players came and went, but at no stage in the closing chapter of any Test - not even the one they won in Brisbane - did they trouble the scoreboard operator.
They never exactly crumbled in the last 20 minutes either, but the question must remain: were they so flogged in training that when the time came for the last surge, the tank was empty? Expect no answer from the camp. This has been a tour controlled to the point of censorship.
The Wallabies oozed warmth. This was their farewell to Rod Macqueen, their coach in a time of unparalleled success, their leader of four years, who stuck with them two weeks ago after the ambush of Brisbane, and saw them all right yet again. This was the fiftieth cap for Matthew Burke who returned the honour with a tally of 19 points. This was the first cap for Justin Harrison who was massive in the second row.
In Melbourne the Lions could fairly say they had thrown the game away. Not here at Stadium Australia in front of 84,188 people, the biggest crowd ever to witness a Lions game. Sure, they had their chances but at key moments in the dreaded last quarter they blew it.
One moment summed it all up. With two minutes remaining on the clock, and needing a converted try to win, the Lions earned themselves a line-out five metres out. They threw to their banker, the captain, the brooding colossus himself, Martin Johnson. Harrison beat him to the ball. The game was done.
It had seemed destined to be that way from the earliest part of the day. Austin Healey broke down with back trouble and the Lions were forced to drag in, almost off the street, Andy Nicol of Scotland, to provide bench cover for scrum-half Matt Dawson. At lunchtime I went down in the hotel lift with Nicol who had his nose buried in the Lions' calls and moves.
The impression of a shambles could not be shaken off in the opening period of the game either. The first line-out on the Lions throw was lost. Harrison, already. Matthew Burke kicked a penalty. The Wallabies were in the lead after one minute.
But as a shambles these Lions were never likely to be remembered. As single-minded, always; as forceful, certainly; as brutal, quite often. But shambolic? Not for long. Rob Henderson put an end to uncertainty in the opening period. He put in a little grubber kick close to the try line and was obstructed by Nathan Grey. Jonny Wilkinson tied the scores with the penalty.
The scrummage was nevertheless still under a degree of pressure. Scott Quinnell was not able to launch himself from a comfortable base. In fact, he was so uncomfortable that he gave away a few penalties for not releasing. Two were kicked by Burke. Finally, it seemed, after two Tests of rare openness on the field of play, the kickers were taking over, as we had presumed they would.
And then the little running maestro changed all that. Jason Robinson, that is, with a little help from two of the front-row union. From a five-metre scrum Rob Henderson thundered into midfield. The ball was recycled going back towards the touchline. Dawson and Wilkinson provided the orthodox transfer but then Keith Wood and Tom Smith, hooker and prop, appeared to illustrate perfectly how to draw and give. Two sweet passes and Robinson was over. Just for good measure Wilkinson converted from the touchline.
The fly-half then matched Burke miss for miss. Two penalty attempts apiece failed. The kickers were being eclipsed again. Especially when the handlers struck for the game's second try. Harrison started the move with a leap and catch at a restart. George Gregan, Grey, Andrew Walker, Joe Roff and finally Daniel Herbert combined to show that it wasn't just front-row forwards who could take and give.
With the Wallabies six points in front, the hooter sounded for the end of the first half. Unfortunately for them, the Lions were in the middle of a 13-phase move that refused to end. When it did eventually come to a halt it was only because Australia were off-side. The hooter does not override a penalty. The Lions were only three adrift at the interval.
The first two Tests had both been decided in the period about to start: the opening minutes of the second half. A burst of scoring while the clock was in its forties in Brisbane and Melbourne had turned the Tests.
It happened again here. The loss of Quinnell with a hamstring strain did not appear to affect the Lions. They won a line-out and drove on. The phases were again put seamlessly together. Wilkinson, who had once appeared to be extremely doubtful because of the blow in Melbourne to his lower leg - he was sure at the time that he had broken it - showed how quickly young flesh heals by dancing outside Toutai Kefu to score.
One try would quickly lead to another. As it had in every Test. But not by the same side for once. Harrison won a line-out, Grey and Kefu set up rucks on separate charges and Herbert went over for his second try.
Trailing by three points the Lions now had their best chance to win the game. Herbert, twin try-scorer, was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Brian O'Driscoll. Wilkinson levelled the scores. Could the Lions now make the one-man advantage pay? No. When Herbert returned the score had not budged. Wilkinson had missed a penalty. That was all.
The Lions now had renewed problems at the line-out - Harrison was one, needless to say. They tried to throw long. But long spelt danger. Martin Corry pushed an opponent. Burke kicked one penalty. And then another as Colin Charvis, Quinnell's replacement, was penalised at the tackle.
But by now the Wallabies were running the show. Penalties all favoured Australia. Until the one that set up that last chance at the line-out. Johnson against the bloke who didn't start playing till he was 19. Harrison won the line-out. Australia had won the Test and the series. Even the cold Lions must have felt a chill in their hearts.
Australia: Burke; Walker, Herbert, Grey, Roff; Flatley, Gregan; Stiles, Foley, Moore, Harrison, Eales (capt), Finegan (Cockbain 70), G Smith, Kefu.
Lions: Perry; James (Balshaw 70), O'Driscoll, Henderson, Robinson; Wilkinson, Dawson; T Smith (Morris 70), Wood, Vickery, Johnson (capt), Grewcock, Corry, Back, Quinnell (Charvis 40).
Referee: P O'Brien (New Zealand).
Man of the match: Justin Harrison
The 6ft 9in Harrison, who was 19 before he took up rugby union, started with devastating challenges against the Lions throw-in to the middle and tail of the line-out - the effect of which was to undermine the Lions' line-out confidence throughout.> Furthermore, almost every Lions re-start ball seemed to go into his safe arms. But his finest hour came late in the game when the Lions threw in to a five-metre line-out, clearly looking for a drive to the line. It would start with the catch of Martin Johnson at number two - but Harrison timed his challenge perfectly. Without assistance, he got his body and his hands a fraction in front of Johnson's and whipped the ball away. There has probably never been such a momentous international debut for a lock forward. But how can so mighty a player have had to wait this long?
Norman Harris
