'Without rubbing salt into the wounds of the Irish women not making the World Cup, if something was to come off the back of this in a couple of years, it would give them the exposure they will probably miss out on in 2022'

The two-time Six Nations winner with Ireland is part of the 13-person group to be chaired by Ieuan Evans, who went on three Lions tours as a player.

A date has yet to be set for Erasmus’ misconduct hearing but World Rugby is expected to make an example of the Springboks’ director of rugby

Ireland captain Sexton is determined to rebound and hit the ground running for the 2021-22 campaign

The Leinster and Ireland wing has recovered from a hamstring injury that ended his 2020/21 campaign long before the season came to a halt with the series in South Africa

To me, the big, game-defining moments came in the form of penalties to South Africa at the scrum in the final quarter, after the entry of Trevor Nyakane

The Lions attack coach said he had been as frustrated as armchair viewers who sat through some tedious rugby at times in the series won 2-1 by South Africa

Player of the seriesSouth Africa wing Makazole Mapimpi may have been one of the unsung heroes of the Springboks’ World Cup success of 2019, particularly with Cheslin Kolbe on the other side of the back three but the Sharks star has been the star man ...

There is no denying this was a mighty effort from the world champions who started at a huge disadvantage

The New Zealander has been head coach for the past three Lions tours, winning a series in Australia in 2013, drawing with the All Blacks in New Zealand four years ago and losing to world champions South Africa 2-1 on Saturday

The four-time tourist had been on the field at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria in 2009 when a Springbok debutant by the name of Morne Steyn had delivered the fatal blow to the Lions’ hopes

What will prove the signature moment from this tour? What will 2021 be remembered for? Sadly, it may well be Rassie Erasmus’s 62-minute video rant that ultimately proved so influential. How sad is that?

For the first time in more than half a century, the Lions completed a Test series without a single try from anyone behind the scrum

Simon Lewis, the only Irish newspaper journalist with the tour, assesses the individual impact of the players on Warren Gatland's squad

It hasn’t been a Lions tour to excite or stimulate. No realistic analysis can set aside the artificial environment in which the games are taking place

That mental toughness is set to be challenged once again, this time with issues more familiar in nature, writes Donal Lenihan

One try in 160-plus minutes of Test rugby is not sufficient evidence to consider this trip to the Southern Hemisphere in any way a success

Biggar recognises this tour has fallen well short of showcasing the talent the cream of British and Irish rugby has to offer

With the world champions not likely to change course for this decider, Warren Gatland’s men will have to steel themselves for another relentless kicking barrage from Handré Pollard and Cobus Reinach.

The Lions attack coach was part of the last series win over the Springboks in 1997 and believes repeating the feat of 24 years ago would rank up there with the heroes of that tour given the unique circumstances of the 2021 tour taking place in the midst of a global pandemic.

Owen, 34, and Furlong, 28, were both on the 2017 tour to New Zealand when the Lions drew the series with the All Blacks following a 15-15 draw in the final Test

Jones praised the energy Aki has brought to the camp despite being overlooked for the opening two Tests

'If I don’t believe in myself, nobody else is going to believe in me'

Tarnawa, a triple Group 1 winner last autumn and being aimed at the ‘Arc’, made a pleasing return to action when registering a smooth success, under Colin Keane, in the Group 3 Grant Thornton Ballyroan Stakes in Leopardstown.

Munster forward Beirne provided lock and back-row cover in the first two Lions matches against the world champion Springboks

Lions head coach Warren Gatland said the drawn 2017 series with the All Blacks felt “a bit like kissing your sister”

It will not be possible for the Lions to release the shackles against South Africa without dire consequences, according to Gatland

Even here in Cape Town, which has always been the most cosmopolitan of South Africa’s cities, a turf war is raging between different taxi groups. Police say at least seven people were dead after a recent shooting spree in what’s suspected to be the latest flare-up in the deadly taxi turf war.

The world champions dictated the terms of last Saturday’s second Test, slowed the tempo down at every turn and came out 27-9 victors, levelling the series at one game apiece and sending the outcome down to the final encounter this weekend

Aki, 31, is yet to see any game-time in this series against the Springboks, despite having impressed in the first five matches of this Lions adventure.

Warren Gatland believes his gameplan can undo the Springboks in this final rubber at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday — it just needs to be executed much, much better.

Gatland has made changes throughout the backline and in the front row after seeing the Lions come out second best in the aerial kicking battle and at the set-piece

Sinckler appeared before the independent judicial committee via video link on Tuesday and denied he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card.

South Africa have made two changes for Saturday's series finale against the Lions

Owen Russell is out of a Lions Test squad for the first time since the 2013 series with Australia, making way for Finn Russell

The Lions head coach is set to name his matchday squad for the third Test on Tuesday

The Lions’ sports scientist, Dr Brian Cunniffe, from Roscommon, has worked on two previous tours, to Australia in 2013 and New Zealand four years ago

The Lions will have to ring the changes to give themselves a fighting chance, something that always has the potential to be as disruptive as it is beneficial

World Rugby was concerned about comments by members of both the Lions and South Africa but Erasmus' 62-minute video was considered a breach of World Rugby regulations

It was a game full of frayed tempers and two yellow cards for foul play, while Lions replacement prop Kyle Sinckler was later cited for an alleged biting incident

Did South Africa crush the Lions’ spirit?

Lions will need changes as basic gameplan comes up short

Warren Gatland has a lot to ponder between now and next weekend

Is Alun Wyn Jones’ starting spot up for discussion ahead of the deciding Lions Test next weekend?