It\u2019s time for our Monday wrap of who has their name in lights and who is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons after the weekend.<\/p>\n
THEY\u2019RE ON FIRE!<\/p>\n
The not so dead rubber:\u00a0Although the British & Irish Lions<\/a> had their three-Test series against the Wallabies<\/a> sewn up ahead of the final Test at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, there was still plenty at stake in that encounter. The famous touring team had the chance to clinch a 3-0 series victory for the first time since 1904 and they also had an opportunity to win all their matches on their tour of Australia \u2013 a feat last achieved in 1927. Meanwhile, the Wallabies were determined to finish the series on a high after losing the first two Tests. It was far from a dead rubber as the sides went at each other for the full 80 minutes, with the home side eventually securing a deserved 22-12 victory.<\/p>\n Wallabies:\u00a0After suffering a heartbreaking 29-26 defeat in the second Test, Joe Schmidt\u2019s troops were highly motivated to finish the series on a high in Sydney and in the end they did just that, sealing a deserved win. Although the match was played in atrocious weather conditions, with torrential rain pelting down for long periods and delays due to the threat of lightning, Australia kept their composure throughout. They held an 8-0 lead at half-time and eventually outscored their visitors three tries to two with Dylan Pietsch, Max Jorgensen and Tate McDermott scoring.<\/p>\n Tadhg Beirne:\u00a0The British & Irish Lions utility forward started on the blindside flank in all three Tests against the Wallabies and showed his class with outstanding performances on each occasion. The 33-year-old was superb on either side of the ball throughout the series and was a valuable source of possession at the back of the lineouts for the tourists. Despite finishing on the losing side on Saturday,\u00a0Beirne<\/a> put in a solid shift and his efforts in all three Tests were rewarded when he was named as the Player of the Series which was a fitting reward for his performances.<\/p>\n Will Skelton:\u00a0The behemoth second-rower showed once again how important he is to the Wallabies cause as he came to the fore with a outstanding all-round performance in his side\u2019s triumph over the British & Irish Lions. Skelton<\/a> weighs a hefty 135 kilograms which means he is a non-jumping lock but he showed in Saturday\u2019s clash in Sydney that he is a real asset for the Wallabies at close quarters, especially in giving them momentum in the rucks and mauls. The 33-year-old was on the field for a 64-minute stint and his physicality as a ball carrier and on defence proved a real handful for the Lions who battled to contain the Wallabies\u2019 enforcer.<\/p>\n Nic White swansong: Playing in his final Test for his country, the Wallabies veteran scrum-half was one of his team\u2019s best players as he delivered a superb performance in their victory over the Lions. The 35-year-old was on the field for 59 minutes and caught the eye with his slick service to his outside backs and varied his play well with clever box kicks in trying weather conditions and he also delivered some deft offloads to his forwards at close quarters. White was also in the thick of the action with his usual niggle which got under the Lions\u2019 skin and received a rousing applause from the spectators when he was replaced by McDermott.<\/p>\n Lima Sopoaga\u2019s NPC return:\u00a0The All Blacks fly-half made his return to New Zealand after an eight-year absence and enjoyed a memorable return to the field for Waikato off the replacements bench during their Round One National Provincial Championship (NPC) encounter against Auckland at Eden Park recently. Auckland dominated most of the match and when Sopoaga entered the fray the home side held a 27-12 and they soon made it 32-12 after Payton Spencer crossed for a try. The visitors launched a superb comeback and Sopoaga eventually crossed for a last-minute try which was converted by another ex-All Blacks playmaker, Aaron Cruden, as the Mooloos clinched a 36-35 victory.<\/p>\n British & Irish Lions legend hails \u2018old-school\u2019 Wallabies star who is leading Joe Schmidt\u2019s team back to \u2018the top\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n BROKEN THERMOSTAT<\/p>\n