Johannesburg, Sunday
probably put it best.
Asked whether Lions tours are still relevant in this professional age, the Springboks captain was unequivocal.
"Without a doubt," he said. "It has been an amazing experience from start to finish,
and I still think it is one of the most prized spectacles rugby union has to offer.
"The spirit in which it is based, the toughness of the games, the competitiveness of the series, how close it was at the end of the day...wow, there are not a lot of top-notch games out there that can provide what a Lions series can provide."
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Saturday evening, Johannesburg
Amid the euphoria of a , captain Paul O'Connell encapsulated best the prevailing mood.
It struck him, he said, immediately the final whistle sounded at Ellis Park.
No doubt it will continue to gnaw away at the proud Irishman long after the dust has settled on one of the greatest, if not successful, Lions series ever.
"After we have got over enjoying this, we might be filled with regret," he said. "But that is sport. It can be so cruel...We could be looking at 'what ifs?' for a long time."
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Johannesburg, Thursday evening
No wonder Ian McGeechan says victory in Saturday's final Test of this 2009 Lions series would be "very sweet".
If the odds were not already stacked against his side before it started, they have only lengthened as each week of their South African safari has unfolded.
After the brutality of the , the impending joust in Jo'burg will hardly be a walk in Ellis Park either, despite a .
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Johannesburg, Wednesday evening
Wales flanker has been giving us the 'behind the scenes' view of life inside the Lions' camp on their South Africa tour.
I will be speaking to Martyn again on Thursday afternoon, after the team is announced for the third Test.
So in the final week of the tour, this is your last chance to ask him any questions you may have about what has unfolded so far, on and off the field.
I'll collate the best of them and his answers will appear on the site on Friday.
I'm Bryn Palmer and I specialise in rugby union but stick my oar into most other sports, apart from rowing.
