Lions inspired by boxing legend Katie Taylor as star lifts lid on 'poignant' message

Lions No.8 Jack Conan revealed boxing legend Katie Taylor inspired the tourists to put the Wallabies on the canvas on Saturday.

Taylor, a light welterweight champion and heroine of London 2012, sent a message to the Lions ahead of the epic 29-26 series clincher in Melbourne.

Conan and Taylor are both from Bray, County Wicklow, and the link-up came via mental coach Gary Keegan who worked with the boxer and is in Australia with Andy Farrell's squad.

Conan said: "It was unbelievably poignant and powerful. It spoke about being prepared to win with skill but be ready to win by will.

"I'm incredibly proud of where I come from and I know Katie is as well. She's gone on to be such a superstar and be just incredibly humble, driven and that is something that we kind of leant on as well.

"The lads absolutely loved it because it meant a lot to me being from the same place and seeing her on the world stage. Even the English and the Scottish boys and the Welsh boy, it resonated with everyone."

Conan was screaming for the ball as Hugo Keenan went over the line and would have had words with the full-back if he had not got it down.

Conan added: "I was shouting for the ball, but Hugo goes and scores a try I've no complaints but if he bottled it there, I would have killed him and kicked the arse off him but that was great.

"We were not at our best by any measure, but physically the lads dug in unbelievably well."