Lions restore lost pride

A SERIES lost 2-1 is a hell of alot better than a 3-0 white-wash.

At least from this vantage point it certainly feels that way. In keeping with the way the South African public supported this tour it was rather ironic that John Smit raised the Unity Cup, the symbol of the series win, in a stadium left deserted by the Springbok support. They were disgusted by their comprehensive, record equalling 28-9 defeat, while 20,000 Lions fans stood in unison to acknowledge the efforts of a very honest group of players.

With South Africa making 10 changes to the side that triumphed in Pretoria last weekend, had the Lions lost this one it could have done irreparable damage. Instead it was a fitting end for a squad that has given everything throughout this tour and despite the absence of four key players lost in battle in the second test – Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones – the Lions summoned sufficient reserves of energy and commitment to punish an arrogant Springbok side.

It was fitting that Paul O’Connell, who has endured some snide comments over the past few weeks, should lead the side by example with his best performance of the campaign. To a man the tour squad individually approached and hugged their leader while bidding an emotional farewell to an inspirational support base, which has also done their bit to enhance the Lions image.

A winning margin of 19 points has a certain resonance about it as that was the gap by which the Springboks led at one stage in the opening test in Durban when the Lions looked considerably out of their depth and one feared for their survival. The progress made since is well reflected in the 38-point turnaround.

It must be a matter of significant regret for all within the Lions camp that the opening 20 minutes of the first test went so horribly wrong. This was a series that they might well have won had injuries, a more competitive opening series of games, more informed selection and a little bit of luck gone their way. The sight of the Lions squad gathering in the centre of the field at the final whistle showed just what this win meant to everyone involved.

Twelve years ago Martin Johnson accepted the spoils in this very stadium after a defeat by 35-16. This time the South African captain accepted the trophy despite the result. The Lions players wore the broader smiles on Saturday after a game that was a justification of sorts.

From this point the post mortems will start but the class of 2009 will be well received despite losing the series. That is how it should be. It is incumbent on the Lions committee to review just how they had to arrive at the ninth game of the tour to get selection sorted out, a factor not helped by the opposition fielding weakened sides in the early games. The southern hemisphere needs the Lions more than the Lions need them. They are struggling from too much familiarity in their fixture list, a fact highlighted during the week with the announcement that New Zealand will play Australia four times over the next few months. Could you imagine Ireland playing England with the same regularity over a period of four months?

Eight years ago, in my tour report after the trip to Australia, I recommended that the domestic season be shortened by two weeks in a Lions year in order to allow proper preparation time prior to a tour and for the players to get a bit of breathing space. Nothing happened. This time we had the sight of the Leinster and Leicester contingent rushing from Edinburgh after the Heineken Cup final before boarding a plane to Johannesburg 24 hours later.

Our own unions are putting too many barriers in the way of a Lions success and that needs to be addressed before the Lions committee inform the hosts on the conditions under which they will travel. Quite apart from the money generated by the host union, the spend of the massive travelling army that the Lions attract is also worth megabucks to the economy of the country visited. The committee also need to insist that the provincial sides the tourists play against field their international players, with the only concession given to the game on the Saturday prior to the first test.

The Lions remains a wonderful concept that operates against all the odds and retains a certain magic. That aura was damaged in New Zealand in 2005 but despite the series defeat, that magic has been honourably restored on this trip. That point was forcibly made to me by hundreds of travelling fans who had travelled four years ago and were left seriously disappointed.

The tour should also generate some tangible rewards for Irish rugby with the World Cup now firmly becoming the next point of focus. The younger brigade of Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Keith Earls, Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe return home with reputation enhanced and wiser from the experience. Ronan O’Gara will have regrets for that penalty concession at the death in the second test but is big enough to carry it. He, along with Donncha O’Callaghan and Gordon D’Arcy, never really got the opportunity to establish themselves in the test side.

Brian O’Driscoll was the undoubted star of the tour and O’Connell carried himself with grace and dignity, peaking in the last two tests. Jamie Heaslip and David Wallace were excellent throughout and it was great to see John Hayes rewarded with a test cap when he came on for the last quarter on Saturday. The Bull handled The Beast with ease.

The Irish game against South Africa at Croke Park in November is already looking appetising, with all the players gagging for an opportunity of taking on John Smit’s side on home soil.

That is the beauty of the modern game, there is always a fresh challenge waiting around the corner.

For the Lions as an entity, I am certain that they still have a role to play, even in the congested fixture list that demands so much of the players. They need to be more appreciated at home to offer them every chance of being as competitive as possible when they go away. Here’s hoping Australia 2013 will be upon us before we know it.