Lions series has been intense but ultimately ugly and deflating

The first two British and Irish Lions Tests in South Africa have been eyesores, bad-tempered and sadly lacking in inspiration. The amount of yelling, from both sides, at referee Ben O’Keeffe during the second Test was embarrassing, and will undoubtedly filter down to the amateur level, where there is already pressure on referee numbers.

Perhaps, then, the series will forever be defined by South African director of rugby Rassie Erasmus’ complaints about Nic Berry’s refereeing after the Springboks lost the first Test. It’s true that the 50-50s didn’t go the Springboks’ way in the first Test, but they did in the second.

It has always been thus, especially in a highly technical game such as rugby. The ‘rub of the green’ principle has governed conduct for many years, but it is coming apart at the seams in South Africa.

2. Australia’s Olympics failure will come at a cost

To contrast the rugby Sevens at the Olympics and the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa is perhaps to score the easy and cheap points. Still, it has been hard not to feel uplifted by the contests in Tokyo, and frustrated at events in South Africa. Both the men’s and women’s Sevens events in Japan were brilliantly entertaining.

Australia’s Sevens failures in Tokyo will go down as a lost opportunity to drive participation.Credit:Getty

As such, they are massive participation drivers for the sport, particularly as the gold-medal Black Ferns are as charismatic and likeable as the Australian women were in Rio in 2016. The underwhelming Australian campaigns must be put in context - the women’s Sevens saw the thrilling rise in Fiji - but they still feel like an opportunity lost to spread the gospel.

3. What the Wallabies coaches will take from the Springboks’ win

The Wallabies will squarely be focused on the All Blacks this week, but the Tests in South Africa will still be on their radar. And bear in mind that Dave Rennie and co will view the Tests differently to us, spending less time worrying about the aesthetics and more about the challenges.

After the second Test, they will know - if they didn’t already - that the Springboks have a brilliant defensive system that uses the toughness, speed and intelligence of three men - No.9 Faf de Klerk, No.13 Lukhanyo Am, and No.14 Makazole Mapimpi.

The Springboks are fiendishly difficult to break down because of that trio’s ability to patrol acres of space and hit hard when it counts. The Springboks will miss Pieter-Steph du Toit if they make it to Australia for the Rugby Championship (his shoulder injury looked serious) but they will be formidable nonetheless.

4. Wallabies’ Bledisloe worries: Jacobson and Papalii

You can reel off the dangermen for the Wallabies before the Eden Park Test on Saturday: the obvious one is Richie Mo’unga, whose pace, footwork and distribution are nothing like what the French offered.

But the other threats are lesser known to Australian audiences. Chiefs No 8 Luke Jacobson and Blues No 7 Dalton Papalii have been standouts all year, and their work around the tackle and breakdown is outstanding. The All Blacks have a hard choice to make at No 8 - Ardie Savea could easily start - but no matter how they configure the 23 Jacobson and Papalii are likely to be in it, and they are shaping as figures of considerable influence.

5. The Lions were far from blameless for dire Cape Town spectacle

Warren Gatland’s side managed a meagre 105 running metres against the Springboks, and the No.9-No.10 combination of Conor Murray-Dan Biggar appeared to be reading from a narrow, conservative script that relied heavily on contestable kicks.

Genuinely gifted backs such as Anthony Watson and Liam Williams have barely been seen with ball in hand in the series (or even seen), while wings Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit have strangely been overlooked for the burly but limited Duhan van der Merwe.

Gatland has a brilliant record for the Lions - and he may well turn it around next week - but there have been times during the past three tours when it felt like the tactical handbrake has been applied too tightly.

Paul Cully is a rugby columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.

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