The Lions were unbeaten through their first eight matches of the summer and came from behind to clinch the Australia series in the second Test, but fell to a 22-12 defeat in Sydney in their final tour outing.

Andy Farrell has provided an encouraging update on James Ryan after the British and Irish Lions lock was taken off on a stretcher following a sickening incident in the third Test. The Lions were beaten 22-12 by the Wallabies in Sydney to miss out on the series clean sweep they had coveted on a night marred by injuries and a long weather delay.

Brian O’Driscoll, the former Ireland and Lions captain, argued in a newspaper column this week for Farrell senior to get the 2029 gig. To us outsiders, Andy’s pleasant calmness amid the occasional madness has certainly been a hallmark of this tour.