What a match! What a tour. And what a superb game is rugby when its derring-do is derring-done like this.

True, our blokes narrowly went down 22-19 to a mighty Irish side celebrating its 150th year of playing raging rugby in these parts, but that was, seriously, the only bit of bad news on an otherwise wonderful day.

For let the word go forth from this place and this time – as ye of broken noses and puffy eyebrows have borne witness, and will pass on to those of creaky knees and cranky hips across our brown........

© The Sydney Morning Herald