There is no getting away from the fact that Australia are not the strongest side that the British and Irish Lions have faced. Irrespective of that, winning a Test series is precious and absolutely must be savoured.
It is such a rare achievement that stays with you for the rest of your life. This would only be the second series victory for the Lions since we went to South Africa in 1997. There have been only three series wins in half a century since 1974.
To look at it the other way, it remains a huge event for the host nation. For most Australian players involved this time, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As such, the Lions holds immense respect from within and from the outside. It can be easy for people to forget both sides of that.
As a Lions player, especially in a Test match, you are part of a team that is the best that Britain and Ireland can produce. Selection is a personal thing, because you are being told that, as an individual, you have something different about you. Winning in that jersey is something extremely special.
He comes in for the injured Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre:
