45 days Down Under: The Verdict

O'Driscoll, scoring his gem of a try in the Brisbane Test. Austin Healey, keeping his mouth shut and eyes open to bamboozle the Brumbies. Matt Dawson, landing the definitive pressure kick to beat the Brumbies.

THE LOWS

Wilkinson, throwing the pass for Joe Roff's interception try in Melbourne. Dawson, betraying the Lions' trust with his badly timed attack on the management. Healey, insulting Justin Harrison in another counter-productive newspaper column.

SIX OF THE BEST

Martin Johnson: His place in the Lions pantheon is now beyond dispute.
Jason Robinson: Ten tries in seven matches and he's still learning.
Richard Hill: The outstanding back row forward, badly missed in the decider.
Brian O'Driscoll: Does things other centres can only dream about.
Keith Wood: Not at his best in Sydney but another Lions legend.
Scott Quinnell: Proving himself at last

THE UNDER-ACHIEVERS

Scott Murray: Startling decline from Test certainty to non-challenger.
Neil Jenkins: A tour too far, now close to international retirement.
Iain Balshaw: Struggled from the start to reproduce his England form.
Ben Cohen: Prospective Test wing but only got going far too late.

THE OVERALL VIEW

Too many opportunities missed, on and off the field. Scored more than twice as many tries as during the winning series in South Africa four years ago. Won in Brisbane, should have won in Melbourne, could have won in Sydney. Transitional Wallabies were there for the taking and the Lions should have taken them despite the alarming injury toll.