Andy Farrell was left to lament the Lions' poor game control as they missed the chance to complete a famous series whitewash against Australia.
The Wallabies came out on top, 22-12 in a chaotic third Test in Sydney, which was halted for just short of 40 minutes during the second half due to the threat of lightning around the Accor Stadium.
The Lions looked leggy after their celebrations last week when they clinched the series with a game to spare, and failed to play the conditions, with a series of huge downpours causing a high error count, the most costly of which saw Blair Kinghorn and Bundee Aki’s lapses allow Max Jorgensen break clear for the try that sent Australia 15-0 in front.
"The try that broke the camel's back was because we were trying to play too much rugby around halfway, and then the dropped ball and them picking it up and scoring on the break," Farrell (below) said after the ten-point loss.
"In those types of conditions it was always going to be an uphill battle from there on in. A bit of game control stuff.
"I thought Australia's set piece in general was pretty good, especially their defensive line-out so a lot of credit goes to them as well."
The defeat has no material effect on the series, which the Lions secured last week with their last-gasp win at the MCG, but it does see them fall short of a first 3-0 whitewash of the Wallabies in 121 years.
"There is going to be frustration there. We said all along we wanted to win every game but the best team won on the night today.
"I have just said to the lads on reflection it might take one, it might take two beers, but they will be unbelievably proud of what they achieved throughout this tour.
"We all know how hard it is to be successful on a Lions tour against a good side like Australia, and they are a good side, they proved that over the series so on reflection, when we get a bit of time to ourselves, tonight and tomorrow we will be unbelievably proud of what we have achieved," he added.
The dreadful weather contributed to a particularly attritional game, and it was sobering to witness four players leave the game in the opening 43 minutes with head injuries, the most notable being James Ryan (above) who was carted from the field after being knocked out while trying to tackle Australia lock Will Skelton.
And Farrell did at least give a reassuring update that the Ireland international was "up and talking" after the game.
"He was [knocked] out there for a good few minutes but he's back up and in good spirits. Hopefully he's going to be fine."
Ryan’s departure coincided with the lightning delay which, which caused the delay.
Australia appeared to react better to the delay, and looked the sharper side when play resumed.
TV cameras in the changing rooms showed two very different approaches to how the teams spent the time, with the Lions allowing their players to relax during the down time, while the Wallabies stayed far more tuned in, with players staying warm on exercise bikes and having breakout sessions in their units.
However, Farrell says it is "complete rubbish" that his side switched off.
"You don’t know [when play will resume] until you know, and when you do know you have to agree the warm-up time allocated is going to be acceptable to both teams.
"We agreed on 10 minutes for the warm-up and through our advice from our experts in that field we only made the call to come out five minutes before and stay out there so that we would be ready to go."
Tadhg Beirne, who was named player of the series, said the delay was new territory for everyone.
"It was just a bit strange, I suppose," he said.
"I’ve never experienced something like that, there was a bit of the unknown. We were kind of told it was going to be 45 minutes so you start trying to relax a little bit before having to get back up for it, and then all of a sudden it was, 'you are out in seven minutes’, so all of a sudden you are trying to get switched on to focus again.
"That’s the challenge of it. I’ve never experienced it before, but I have now so I’ll know what to expect next time, I guess."
On Thursday, Farrell was coy when asked if he would be interested in coaching the Lions again in New Zealand in 2029, and attempt to deliver just a second-ever series win against the All Blacks.
Pressed further about the possibility this evening, he again steered clear of a definitive answer, but left plenty to read between the lines.
"I love everything that the Lions is about and I’ve thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed the last eight weeks.
"There’s always ups and there’s always downs but the inner circle is a special place to be.
"Read into that what you want but I suppose four years, there’s a long time between drinks isn’t there?"
