'It's been transformative and I'm a far better player'

England back row Ben Earl learned some ‘eye-opening’ lessons on his first Lions tour, finds Harry Latham-Coyle

- Harry Latham-Coyle

The British and Irish Lions may just have suffered a third Test defeat, but the broad smile on a beaming Ben Earl's face could virtually span the Sydney Harbour. Of course, a series had been secured, reason enough for celebration, but the effusive Englishman is speaking about something greater.

“It’s been a life-changing experience,” he begins. “It showed me something completely different in terms of the rugby side of things. I’ve loved it. Honestly, it has been completely transformative for me and I’m a far better player because of it.”

So far, so normal - it is tough to find a Lions player who hasn’t come back from this trip having had the experience of their lives. That is in part due to a group that, even among Lions squads, has developed a special bond; plans are already afoot for a reunion in 12 years. But for Earl, as dedicated and ambitious an individual as they come, this trip has allowed him to reconnect with primitive rugby days and learn to approach the game in a distinctly different way.

"Just get out of your own way,” Earl says when asked for his biggest learning. “You can overthink this sport so much, but when you’ve got a game on Saturday, then you've got to play again on Tuesday or Wednesday, you're not going to be able to do every rep, review everything opposition. Get out of your own way and just play rugby.