As the British & Irish Lions prepare for the dead rubber test match against the Springboks, the post-mortems have already started back at home. Despite a third consecutive series defeat against the southern hemisphere super-powers of world rugby, a number of the Lions players can return home knowing that their stock has increased. Sport.co.uk takes a look at those players which have roared for the Lions and those who will return with more questions than answers.
Roared! Jamie Roberts:
Roberts was already a certainty to make the tour following some strong performances in the Six Nations, but this tour has led to many of his fellow professionals calling him the best centre in the world. One of the few players to make a good impression against the Royal XV, he followed it up with impressive games against the Golden Lions and the Natal Sharks. His partnership with Brian O’Driscoll has left rugby purists drooling. At only 22 years old, Roberts has a possible 2 more Lions tours to look forward and has already been earmarked as a possible future captain.
Roared! Adam Jones:
Outside of Wales, Jones is mainly known as “one of those props with the hair”. Many away from the valleys were unaware of his propping prowess until this tour. Having to take over from Phil Vickery following his nightmare 50 minutes in the first test, Jones came on and steadied up the scrum and even gave it a slight advantage over their Boks counterparts in the second test. Despite his tour ending prematurely following a dislocated shoulder in the second test, Jones can head back to Swansea with his head held high and with the respect of “The Beast”.
Roared! Rob Kearney:
Despite not being first choice for the full back slot, Kearney has ended up as one of the Lions stand out performers. With Lee Byrne’s tour ending in the first half of the first test, Kearney has stepped into the role with aplomb. Pure perfection underneath the high ball and hitting the line hard in attack have become his trademarks and his left boot offers something else to a Lions attack that was predominately right footed. If Kearney continues this form over the next few years, then it could spell the end of the international careers for Geordan Murphy and Girvan Dempsey.
Roared! Tommy Bowe:
No one predicted that come the first test, one of the first names on the teamsheet would have been Tommy Bowe. With pundits having already putting Shane Williams and Monye into the test team, Bowe has been a major winner of Ian McGeechan’s policy of picking the form players on tour. Bowe’s performances in the earlier tour matches were outstanding. His ability to make ground with no room around him and his offloading skills were perfect for the style of play that McGeechan tried to endorse.
Whimpered! Shane Williams:
Great things were expected from the IRB World Player of the Year, but Williams failed to live up to his billing. You would have got long odds on Shane Williams going to entire tour and not scoring a single try, but he has not looked half the player he was 12 months ago. The South African teams looked like they had done their homework on him and every time he got the ball, his trademark jinks were read by the defence. At 32 years old, Williams will be disappointed not to have taken any of his opportunities on probably his last Lions tour.
Whimpered! Ronan O’Gara:
It was always going to be difficult to displace Stephen Jones from the test team, but Ronan O’Gara will have every reason to be disappointed with his tour. In the matches that he played he kicked away far too much ball, considering the talent that was outside him. Then, there is the incident that will haunt O’Gara for the remainder of his career… that penalty at the end of the second test. It was arguably harsh, as it seemed more clumsy than malicious by O’Gara, but people will still ask why he didn’t just kick the ball into the stands and take the draw.
Whimpered! Phil Vickery:
Former World Cup winner and England captain will be remembered on this tour for the beasting he took in the first test against Tendai Mtawarira. Vickery has never been renowned for his scrummaging, he is valued at being a more athletic prop, but no one could have predicted the massacre in the front row at the ABSA Stadium. Vickery was famously on the end of another difficult time from a South African. That time it was in the World Cup final as referee, Andre Watson, repeatedly penalised the Wasps man. Many people will ask if Vickery still has a future at international level.