Lions fly-half Jonny Wilkinson contributed 18 points, equalling the tourists’ individual record for a Test match, and wing Jason Robinson collected a superb first-half touchdown, but it was not enough.

‘‘We are disappointed,’’ said Henry.

‘‘We came on this tour to win, and to go down 2-1 in the Test series is disappointing.

‘‘But big congratulations go to Australia - they played well, and kept the ball for long periods under pressure.

‘‘They played better than we did, but having said that, our players showed huge character and spirit.’’

Johnson added: ‘‘I couldn’t have asked for any more from the players. Half of them were being held together by sticking tape, but we came up short.

‘‘Our discipline was bad in the first half. Australia opened us up down the blind side and played better under pressure.

‘‘They have a lot of talent, and are probably the best-drilled and best-prepared side there is. We’ve put six or seven weeks of our lives into this tour, but unfortunately, we’ve come up short.’’

Henry identified a malfunctioning Lions line-out as a problem discipline, as was ball retention in the tackle area, but the Lions supremo also paid tribute to an outstanding Test debut by Wallabies lock Justin Harrison.

Henry confirmed that number eight Scott Quinnell had left the field at half-time with a hamstring problem, and admitted that ‘‘11 or 12 guys’’ probably needed what he called tidying up knee surgery during the close season.

As for the 10-match tour itself, which saw the Lions lose two Tests and a midweek game against Australia A, Henry added: ‘‘You’ve just got to hurdle the challenges that present themselves, show tenacity and keep boxing on.

‘‘We have always given it our best shot, and I have been very proud of the tenacity of our people.’’

One of the tour scourges, player newspaper columns, again surfaced yesterday when Austin Healey launched a scathing attack on the Australians.

Healey missed today’s game because of injury, but his comments were published just a fortnight after Matt Dawson criticised the Lions coaching staff in a published tour diary.

Commenting generally, Lions manager Donal Lenihan said: ‘‘That aspect of things has been hugely disappointing. There are problems there that need to be resolved.’’

Retiring Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen admitted his team’s victory had been ‘‘a nice way to go out’’.

Macqueen’s outstanding reign as Australian supremo is now at an end and, while he goes into retirement, Eddie Jones will take charge for the forthcoming Tri-Nations series.

‘‘I have got a lot of respect for the Lions they are the best team we’ve played,’’ he said.

‘‘It is the little things that make the differences between teams, and my greatest memories will be of the composure shown by the side in extreme conditions.

‘‘I am very proud of the way the players performed tonight,’’ he added.

Skipper John Eales said: ‘‘I am very relieved. There was a lot of pressure on us after we lost the first Test, and then turning it around in the second.

‘‘I am very proud of Rod. Him stepping down has not been a focus this week, but it is pleasing to see him out on a good note.’’

Wallabies debutant Justin Harrison - Eales’ second-row partner - rightly took the plaudits following his superb display.

‘‘I will come down off the moon and start training on Monday,’’ he said.

‘‘I am trying to enjoy the moment. I feel really special, it has been great to be given the honour of playing for Australia and I am proud to be an Australian tonight.’’

Harrison came in for some ludicrous criticism from Lions star Austin Healey, who labelled him a ‘‘plod’’ in a newspaper article published yesterday.

‘‘He doesn’t have a strong command of the English language when he calls me a plod. There are not too many syllables in that word,’’ Harrison added.