The conditions were savagely difficult and led to a massive contrast, from the free-scoring wonder of Melbourne to a serious scrap in Sydney. Every inch was hard won, every collision brutal. The rain might have been a great leveller if it hadn't been for the demonic intensity of the Wallabies.

Will Skelton typified it. While he's been on the field in this series, the Lions have had no answer to him. How different things might have been deemed fit enough to play in the first Test in Brisbane. He was close.

Taniela Tupou was playing for the first time in this series and the prop was immense. They lost the series last week but if their spirit was broken by that late drama in Melbourne then nobody told the Wallabies. In the deluge, there was a battle and the hosts won it hands-down in a total grind of an opening half.

They scored after just five minutes when a Tom Wright grubber was carried over his own line by Hugo Keenan. Scrum, Australia. Phases, Australia. Try, Australia.

Joseph Suaalii's work to hold the Lions defence - Freeman was caught in no-man's land - before offloading to Pietsch was outstanding, the winger's acrobatic finish quite brilliant in the conditions.

Pietsch, parachuted into the team after playing zero minutes in the series so far, was like a man possessed, hitting hard and often. All of the Wallabies were similarly driven.

When it wasn't a kicking contest, it was attrition all the way. Aggravation was everywhere. A couple of melees broke out. An element of badness existed. Dead rubber? Some chance.

The Lions could get nothing going, their much-praised scrum getting pulverised now that Tupou was back in the front row. How Wallaby head coach Joe Schmidt must rue some of the selection decisions he has made in this series.

What was worse for the Lions was Itoje's failed HIA and then Freeman's failed HIA, with centre Huw Jones now switching to the wing. Australia fly-half Lynagh also failed an HIA and here there will be recriminations. Lynagh looked to have taken a shoulder to the head from Dan Sheehan, now the Lions captain in Itjoje's absence.

Before he left, he kicked the Wallabies 8-0 ahead in a half of continuing dominance. Even when the Lions got decent field position, the power of the Wallabies snuffed them out. Tom Hooper ransacked Jack Conan in the Wallabies 22 and Stadium Australia went berserk in delight.