The thing about a World Cup final or the last Test of a Lions series is that there is no Monday morning. There is never any debrief. Everybody’s had enough and is heading for home.
If such a debrief of Saturday’s loss in Cape Town was conducted, however, it would be a lively and painful session. This was a game and series the Lions should have won. In the final, harsh analysis they blew it in the third Test and only have themselves to blame.
All week Warren Gatland spoke of the game as a cup final, which was exactly the right mindset, but come the day the Lions forgot that maxim in the heat of battle.
The British and Irish Lions couldn't pull of victory in South Africa as they lost the series 2-1
When the Lions were dominating the game in the first half, they moved away from that ruthless mindset.
I am not talking about the try-scoring pass that Liam Williams should have made to Josh Adams, which cost the Lions so dear, but the decision to twice spurn very kickable penalties and go to the corner instead.
Alun Wyn Jones’s decision has been described as brave but I’m not sure. Although you want tries when you can get them, the priority is to take every point on offer. Building the score is vital, yet the Lions turned their back on six points there. A half-time score of 16-6 would have given them more breathing space.
Of course the decision was nuanced, I understand that. Earlier, the Lions had opted for the corner and Ken Owens had scored, but having got that try and put a little daylight between them and the opposition, surely the best option was to build the lead.
It was the one that got away for Warren Gatland as the ex-Wales coach left empty handed
Captain Alun Wyn Jones twice decided to spurs kickable penalties as the Lions lost 19-16
It was time to play the percentages. If you go for the corner and score in the corner it’s not a guaranteed seven points because the conversion can be difficult. It’s a possible five against a pretty much guaranteed three.
And having conceded one try to a driving maul from a lineout, you might expect the Boks to be better prepared next time.
The other factor is that if you go to the corner and the defenders hold you out, that gives them a massive psychological lift.
Do it twice in quick succession and the Boks will have been pumped going into half-time.
That period of the game when the Lions blew the Adams ‘try’ and turned down two shots at goal will haunt their players and fans alike. They should have gone down the tunnel 21-6 up, possibly 23-6 up if the Adams ‘try’ had been converted.
Finn Russell coming off the bench so early had galvanised the Lions backs a little. Off such a platform, they might have finished the job in style.
Another key moment came three or four minutes from time. The Lions pack went
