The Lions Roar Home!

It was billed as the biggest game of rugby union in Australia since the 2003 Rugby World Cup and just as it was 10 years, it was the northerners that came away with the biggest prize.

Indeed, the victory was even more emphatic this time with the British & Irish Lions posting their biggest ever score in a test match and thus deservedly sealing the series at its most critical juncture.

It was their first series win in Australia since 1989 and their first series win anywhere since 1997. At the time Jeremy Guscott and Keith Wood's Lions beat the Boks in Durban on 28 June 1997 to seal the series, this was what was happening in the world -

1. Princess Diana was reportedly dating Dodi Al Fayed
2. Hong Kong was still a British colony
3. Mike Tyson bit off Evander Holyfield's ear

4. Tony Blair was in his 2nd month as British Prime Minister
5. Jim Bolger was Prime Minister of New Zealand
6. Say You'll Be There was the Number 1 Hit song in Australia

So yes it has been a long time between drinks but at one stage, it looked like the Lions drought was set to continue as the determined Wallabies somehow kept themselves in the game despite a scrum that was giving away penalties for free, despite George Smith going down with concussion early on, despite Israel Folau limping off - although Jesse Mogg's arrival in the game actually improved the Wallabies' kicking out of the hand - and despite the lack of front foot ball for their backs.

O'Connor gives the Wallabies a boost going into half-time

Corbisiero gives Lions the lead early on

It was a boost if anything for the Wallabies when they went into the changing sheds 19-10 down rather than 19-3, courtesy of a superb solo try by first-five, James O'Connor, and James Horwill's men looked pumped in the first part of the 2nd half, closing the gap to 19-16. 

Then another scrum penalty meant Leigh Halfpenny whose kicking had been 100% up to that point gave the Lions back their 6 point advantage. 

Best kicker in world rugby?

The Wallabies still had the momentum in the game but the clincher possibly came just over 20 minutes from the end when rather than take the safe 3 points from a shot in front of goal, the Wallabies tapped and ran the ball, before they lost the ball forward over the line and the Lions could clear and subsequently got a penalty to relieve the pressure. 

Sexton goes over for the first try to break the deadlock

George North joins in on the try-scoring

So does the doctor

Once they had the ball, the Lions went rampant and the rest is history. The Wallabies never looked like coming back and the big cats roared home to end years of hurt. 

The buildup to this game had been somewhat overshadowed by controversy over the dropping of experienced Irish centre, Brian O'Driscoll - a Facebook page called Justice for BOD was formed and has 128,785 followers as of today, just showed the outrage many fans felt at Warren Gatland, with many using the fact that Gatland is Welsh national coach as a yard-stick. 

Warren Gatland - Waikato represent!

Alas, Gatland's big call will live down in memory as one of the best coaching decisions ever in international rugby and Gatland deserves a proper knighthood for that - and not the joke one from John Key. 

Robbie, it might be easier dealing with Gerry Brownlee and CERA than fixing that Wallabies scrum..

As for another fellow Kiwi, the future looks a bit bleak. Robbie Deans should probably consider applying for the mayor of Christchurch job as soon as he can with the Australia Rugby Union quite likely to move for Ewen McKenzie or Jake White as soon as possible before the upcoming Rugby Championship. 

Some credit must go to Dingo Deans - he has returned some respectability to Australian rugby in difficult times although the domination of his compatriots across the Tasman of the game meant that Bledisloe Cup success remained a distant dream, along with Rugby World Cup glory. Deans' only one big success was winning the Tri Nations in 2011 - in Rugby World Cup year when winning the competition was considered a curse rather than a blessing. 

However, the manner of defeat to the Lions will surely be the final blow for the former Crusaders coach and probably bring the curtains down on an interesting 5-year tenure in charge of the men in green and gold.

Meanwhile, the Lions can go home and rest up this summer with their heads held up high and real confidence going into their series against New Zealand in 4 years time, along with a big gorilla off their backs.

So who makes my Lions series XV? 

1.Alex Corbisiero - not even in the original team named to tour, Corbisiero flew in late and immediately became a starter whose presence was missed in Melbourne, and showed his importance to the Lions scrum in Sydney. 

2.Stephen Moore - the only star in a Wallabies front row totally dominated, solid in the lineouts and gave good go-forward ball for the Wallabies. A world class player.

3.Adam Jones - looks like a Care Bear rather than a rugby prop but Adam Jones' efforts cannot be disputed - the Lions' most important lynchpin in the scrum.

4.Alun-Wyn Jones - last minute captain for the decider but showed why he was made captain by Warren Gatland with some sterling displays all over the place

5.James Horwill - Queensland's Captain Fantastic who wears his heart on his sleeve. Made some big calls in the series that kept the Wallabies alive. Definitely a model player.

6.Dan Lydiate - the quiet and little mentioned performer in the backrow, but always one of the first names on the team sheet and will be for some time.

7.Sam Warburton - the next great openside flanker in world rugby if he isn't already - thanks to a Mr Richard Hugh McCaw. He was the Lions' heart and soul on and off the field.

8.Toby Faletau - big number 8 who made a huge difference in Sydney

9.Will Genia - best halfback in world rugby without a doubt. Can be dangerous with or without front-foot ball. Deserves a better pack in front of him.

10.Jonny Sexton - it wasn't a series for first fives but Ireland and Leinster's Jonny Sexton was the best of a very average bunch thanks to his work-rate and support play.

11.Israel Folau - best debut by a Wallaby for a while with two tries in Brisbane. Needs to work on his tackling as evident by his feeble attempt to bring down George North in Melbourne but his running game and ability under the high ball is par excellence.

12.Jamie Roberts - was too good not to have in the team when fit. The reason why BOD was dropped and that point was made clear in the last 20 minutes of the series.

13.Jonathan Davies - had to play out of position early on but once back in his favoured outside centre position, looked his very best - was key to the 3 late tries to the Lions.

14.George North - if Halfpenny wasn't player of the series, the big winger who now sadly shares his surname with Kim Kardashian's child would be a credible selection. Will forever be remembered for running with Israel Folau on his back in Melbourne.

15.Leigh Halfpenny - Undisputed player of the series. Kicking was nearly perfect and a great player in defence and in attack. Nuff said.

SUBSTITUTES - 

16.Mako Vunipola - horror start in Melbourne but bounced back superbly. Once Gethin Jenkins limped out of the tour, was key and horror start aside, showed why he is making a meteoric rise in international rugby

17.Richard Hibbard - solid number one hooker for the Lions.

18.Dan Cole - solid tighthead prop to bring off the bench. Got penalised a few times in the lottery that is scrum penalties but ensured the Lions maintained front row dominance for 80 minutes

19.Paul O'Connell - the other Irish gem was unlucky to be ousted out of the tour after game 1 due to injury - would have been in the team for the last two games.

20.Sean O'Brien - superbly filled in for Sam Warburton in Melbourne. A wonderful tour for the Irish flanker. 

21.Conor Murray - great substitute halfback to bring on. Good around the rucks and superb kicking game.

22.James O'Connor - as I said, not a great tour for the first fives. James O'Connor was average in the first two games, but had a good game in the decider, scoring a pretty good solo try. Good runner with the ball but needs to work on his kicking.

23.Adam Ashley-Cooper - solid centre for the Wallabies who ran well and was solid in defence. Will be remembered for the try that kept the series alive for the Wallabies.