Sadly for the shattered Lions, the SAS motto did not apply. Who Dares Wins? Not this time. But after the cruel climax of this arduous tour, British and Irish rugby needs to heed that motto anyway.
Finn Russell’s brilliance here was at once inspiring and frustrating, as it showed what might have been. Scotland’s audacious playmaker liberated the tourists and re-engaged a public weary of negativity.
It ended in tears for Warren Gatland’s team because a raft of scoring chances were squandered. But at least, after the misery of the second Test capitulation, they created some. Plenty, in fact. That was thanks to fly-half Russell.
The British and Irish Lions left South Africa frustrated after losing the series 2-1 this summer
Finn Russell had a sensational Tour and has given hope to purists who want exciting rugby
If he and the Lions hadn’t dared to have a go, they wouldn’t have come close because the Springboks would have pounded them into oblivion. They lost the match and the series when they really should have won it, but only because they finally stopped trying to beat the hosts at their own one-dimensional game.
What happened in the last fixture in this nine-match campaign should serve as a lesson to the Lions and to the sport. It should be a jolt to cautious coaches and a spark of hope for players who crave the licence to play with freedom.
Russell made a mockery of the view that Test rugby has to be all about rigid structure and percentages. It was not about entertaining — although it achieved that purpose, too — it was about trying to win a marquee match by bursting out of a straitjacket.
Gatland, like many elite coaches, reverts to the safest options under the greatest pressure and that is understandable, but Russell showed that he and others like him are worth gambling on. There will be errors and lapses, but the magicians should be trusted to do more good than harm.
Russell took the fight to the Springboks as the Lions created many chances but couldn't covert
Rugby needs this penny to drop if it wants to maintain wider appeal.
After the dross a week earlier, this was a captivating occasion. Russell changed the mood of the match and his team-mates took their cue from him, with backs and forwards suddenly looking for offloads and space.
The Bok defence was stretched and should have been broken. If only Liam Williams had passed to Josh Adams. If only Tom Curry had stayed bound to that maul. If only Ali Price had not hesitated near the line.
