After being granted a day to explore Sydney with their families and friends on Monday, and work through any lingering impacts of their celebrations in Melbourne, the British and Irish Lions re-focused, re-tooled and readied themselves for one final push on Tuesday as they assembled at a posh private school on the other side of the Harbour Bridge from their hotel. A day of shore leave had always been scheduled after the second Test regardless of the result, but the timing was nonetheless neat, allowing a squad weary for several reasons to soak up pleasant winter sunshine not forecast to last beyond Tuesday – a wet week hereafter beckons.
Long past the point of needing excessive training time to build cohesion and carrying the bumps and bruises of an extended tour, it was a light session to welcome the Lions back together a day later than would be customary ahead of a Test. A delayed review will have left plenty in the squad reminded of the intensity of some of the coaching staff and squad, though. There is plenty to be fixed, even in the exultation of a series secure. Indeed, the word ever since arriving in Australia has been of a team intent on making history – a 2-1 success against a flawed Wallabies side would be commendable, of course, but will not etch into the annals like a 3-0.
