There was confusing sight last Saturday at Stadium Australia in Sydney, when not one, but two British and Irish Lions Player of the Tour awards were handed out.
There was confusing sight last Saturday at Stadium Australia in Sydney, when not one, but two British and Irish Lions Player of the Tour awards were handed out.
One went to Irish forward Tadhg Beirne, who started the test series by winning a crucial turnover, and finished it having racked up 240 minutes of intense, test match action that included a try in the second test.
The other went to Finn Russell, the brains of the team and the man whose performance in the first test meant the Lions were so comfortable for so long, and whose refusal to give up the ball, opened the window for Hugo Keenan’s tour-deciding try at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
There were plenty of others who put their hands up with memorable performances for Andy Farrell’s team throughout the tour, so ATR looks at each nation’s best offering outside the official winners.
Dan Sheehan – Ireland
Already highly regarded after his performances for Ireland, he was his usual busy self through the tour matches and into the test arena.
He scored the first try on Australian soil, against Western Force. It was a match he was captain for, a reflection of him being in captain discussions pre-tour.
Another 30 minutes came off the bench against New South Wales Waratahs, and 60 minutes against the ACT Brumbies which pretty much locked him in as starting test hooker.
In the tests he showed his class. His try in the first test, just after half-time was vital in keeping Australia at arms-length. His score early in the second was key to the Lions hitting back after the Wallabies took early control.
It was a shame he let himself down with the hit on Tom Lynagh in the third test and he has rightly copped a lengthy ban for it.
Huw Jones – Scotland
It was a highly memorable tour for the Glasgow Warriors outside-centre, though being shunted onto the wing in the third test wasn’t the ideal ending.
Before then he had more than made his mark on the tour. While he was lucky to earn a reprieve after being dropped for the second test due to Garry Ringrose’s concussion, he showed how devastating he can be at his best.
His try before halftime at the MCG meant the Lions went in at the break within a score. It was a strong finish from close range, in which he held off Australia’s wings Tate McDermott and Max Jorgensen.
He finished with four tries after scoring one against the Queensland Reds and a brace against the Waratahs and will look back with pride on the part he played in the series victory.
Tom Curry - England
Few would have had Curry in the test team after lacklustre performances in the tour, but he didn’t take long to show why he retained Farrell’s faith.
His hit on James Slipper in the first minute of the first test, set the early tone. Beirne swept on the ball, the Lions won a penalty, Russell kicked the three points, and the Lions were up and running.
Curry scored tries in the first and second tests. In the first test, his score before halftime was reward for the tourists’ superiority, while his twinkle-toed effort in Melbourne started the Lions fightback.
Let’s not forgot his tackled on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii that kept the Lions in the second test.
He took his leave midway through the second half of the third test, bloodied, bruised, and forced from the fray. It showed how much he had given.
Jac Morgan – Wales
Not exactly a tough choice considering Morgan was the lone Welsh ranger, but Morgan showed why he’s so highly regarded despite Wales’s travails in recent seasons.
He didn’t let his head drop after missing selection for the first test, he slotted into the second row when James Ryan was yellow carded against First Nations and Pasifika, and he acquitted himself well when he came off the bench in the second and third tests.
Morgan’s admission that he was a little nervous after his coming together with Carlo Tizzano at the end of the second test, shows he has a sense of humour, but it came because he was trying to do what he does best.
The Wales captain’s task is now to pull the rest of his national teammates to his level.