- The Observer,
- Sunday July 15 2001
When a man as intransigent as Martin Johnson takes the microphone in front of 84,000 people and says simply: 'I'm sorry,' to the 20,000-strong contingent that had come to support his team, you know he has reached something of a low.
Johnson's brow, dark and broody at the best of times, was not, for once, the seat of steely determination, as he surveyed the aftermath of the Lions' defeat in yesterday's third and decisive Test in Sydney. Rarely has that formidable countenance stared at defeat, and rarer still has it had to face a defeat so final and irreversible as this.
He thanked the fans for their support and paid warm tribute to Australia and the worthiness of their triumph, but the evident desolation of his players as they consoled each other after the game was as eloquently captured by Johnson's sober demeanour.
He praised his players for the commitment they showed at the end of an intense tour that had concluded an 11-month season.
'I couldn't have asked for any more from the players,' he said. 'Half of them were being held together by sticking tape, but we came up short.
'Australia played better under pressure. They have a lot of talent, and are probably the best-drilled and best-prepared side there is. We've put six or seven weeks of our lives into this tour, but unfortunately, we've come up short. The guys are down, but ultimately it's our fault.'
Lions coach Graham Henry echoed the universal sentiments of disappointment in the camp, but remained proud of his players. 'Firstly I think you have to give congratulations to Australia,' he said. 'They played well under pressure. But our boys can hold their heads up high. It's been a horrendous tour for them in many ways.
'You've just got to hurdle the challenges of the tour like injuries and keep boxing on. We've always given it our best shot.'
Henry confirmed that Scott Quinnell had retired with a hamstring injury at half-time, and suggested that 11 or 12 players would need 'tidying-up' surgery in the close season.
Lions manager, Donal Lenihan, meanwhile, questioned the need for future Lions squads to play regular Tuesday games throughout the tour, sacrificing recovery time between games. He also bemoaned the controversial columns that had been written by players on the tour.
Austin Healey's column in The Guardian on Friday had included a stinging attack on Justin Harrison, the lock whose late hit on Healey after he had scored the vital try at the end of the ACT Brumbies game had put him out of the second Test. Harrison starred yesterday on his debut for Australia and was delighted to have had the final say.
'He doesn't have a strong command of the English language when he calls me a plod,' he said of Healey's outburst. 'There are not too many syllables in that word.'
But Australia were more concerned with bigger issues, namely the winning of a series that they'd had to turn around and the manner in which they bade farewell to retiring coach Rod Macqueen after his glorious career.
'I am very relieved,' said captain John Eales. 'There is nothing between these two teams and there was a lot of pressure on us after we lost the first Test.'
The final words, however, must go to Macqueen, whose four-year reign has seen Australia establish themselves as the best team in the world.
'There is a tear in my eye,' he admitted afterwards. 'My greatest memories of this team will be the composure we showed under pressure, when we've had a problem we've been able to overcome it. We had a lot of respect for the Lions and I personally think they are the best team we've ever played. It comes down to the little things, and that's what let us come away with it today.
'A confident side respects their opposition but an arrogant side doesn't. And for as long as the Wallabies are around I hope that'll be their motto.'
