- guardian.co.uk, Sunday July 15 2001 18.01 BST
Matt Perry: 5
Sound enough, but shaded by Matt Burke in the kicking see-saw, and at this level almost invisible as a counterattacker. A decision to 'mark' a catch, followed by a modest kick to the nearest touchline, rather typified his day.
Dafydd Jones: 6
Didn't miss a key tackle, as in Melbourne, and couldn't be faulted for conceding a five-metre scrum when the Lions were in deep trouble. But not a threat in attack.
Brian O'Driscoll: 7
Once more, a very visible presence. More closely marked than ever, and often forced across field, but still made spirited half-breaks. Pity he couldn't hold a key pass.
Rob Henderson: 6
Started by dropping an easy catch of a long ball on his 22, and later an aimless clearance led to an Australian try. As usual, his forceful tackling helped to ensure no central breaks.
Jason Robinson: 7
Whether it was down to him or to team strategy, he never got early ball - and he once passed up the chance to counterattack from deep. But the cutting edge showed in short bursts. Impressively strong in the tackle.
Jonny Wilkinson: 8
Amazing recovery marked by typical bravery at dangerous moments, fine passing and vision, and a terrific try. Would have been man of the match but for those three missed kicks.
Matt Dawson: 7
Had a few fumbles and misjudgments, but made them good with typical spirit. His passing, not his strongest suit, was reliable, and the first try owed much to his vision. Could have used the defensive chip more.
Tom Smith: 8
Ensured a solid scrum, tigerish in his work after the tackle, and also shone in the loose. His final, scoring pass to Robinson, with an inward body tilt, was straight out of a manual for centre play.
Keith Wood: 7
A man possessed in the loose, with one classic run from deep and many close-quarter drives; and a key link in the Robinson try. But the line-out problems must reflect on him, possibly unfairly.
Phil Vickery: 7
The tight-head must take credit for the scrum never wavering, as it did at Melbourne, to unexpected Aussie surges. Also did his team-mates a favour by avoiding yellow cards and penalties.
Martin Johnson: 7
The captain was never better than when defending an Aussie line-out drive, turning over the ball. Led his troops splendidly, but must rue the line-out possession stolen by Justin Harrison.
Danny Grewcock: 5
It may not be his fault, nor Johnson's, nor Woods's, but the lock suffered from competitive Australian line-out play. He was lucky not to be shown a yellow card for a raised knee.
Martin Corry: 6
Typically solid, always involved, Corry seldom caught the eye as he played the No 6 role more as a tight than a loose forward. Later in the game claimed some good ball at the tail of the line-out.
Neil Back: 7
One his best games in a Lions shirt. Typically brave and resourceful on the ground - albeit flirting with penalties and a yellow card - and fine hands when linking or filling in at scrum-half.
Scott Quinnell: 7
Innumerable charges in loose and drives from scrum, always making good ground, but also penalised for hanging on.
Colin Charvis: 5
Sadly, a shadow of Quinnell, whom he replaced. Suffered a moment of madness with a quick line-out throw to himself and then a horrible clearance that gave ball away.
