Tadhg Beirne says you must adapt or die to make it with the British and Irish Lions - and he's ready to thrive after a superb finish to his club season. Munster went out of the Champions Cup and the URC at the quarter-final stage but Beirne was heroic in terms of the effort he put in as the province's captain. And, as the Reds' only representative (thus far) on the upcoming tour of Australia, he was quick to offer Johnny Sexton a bed as the newest member of Munster's supporters group! Sexton quipped on Monday that he was ready to join the Red Army ranks after he was asked about his All Black nemesis Rieko Ioane's loan move to Leinster next term. "I was celebrating with him in the hotel yesterday," joked Beirne. "I was like, 'aw brilliant, can't wait to have you down' and offered him a bed to sleep in for any of the late games. Looking forward to having him in the stands next year!". On a more serious note, Kildare man Beirne was an heroic figure for his adopted province in the final weeks of Munster's campaign and Andy Farrell will be looking for that kind of form when the 33-year-old partners skipper Maro Itoje in the Lions second row tomorrow night. The evidence was certainly there that knock-out rugby brings out the best in the ultra-durable and versatile forward. "I suppose it does,"Beirne said. "The last couple of years, the end of the season for Munster have been in those pressure zones of must win games. "It's a disappointing way that we did finish it. But each game, they're high stake games, and it's no different here. Every game is a high stake game and you need to perform. I think that can bring the best out of players. I'd like to think it can bring the best out of me if I really can zone in on the game. "Every game is important, but when you get into those pressure games, you really do have to raise your performance and I'll be treating all these games like that." The Eadestown local was asked is it compatible for the players to connect so quickly given that they are playing together for the first time in a lot of cases and learning a brand new system. Beirne's attitude is, 'well, why not'? He explained: "We're talking about the best of the best. The expectation we would have of each other is that you can adapt to any system you're given. That's the challenge laid in front of us. That's the challenge of being a Lion. "Every four years, there's going to be a new system. The coach is going to want to play a certain way. If you want to be a line, you're going to have to adapt. You'll get left behind. "I would say if you came in here thinking that you could just play your club system or your country system, then you're probably already at a loss. "I think everyone comes into these things with a massive open mind and look forward to getting to play these new systems, getting to try something new and eager to learn. It would be a big thing coming in here because you can learn a lot. In a Lions environment, you're playing with the best of the best. "If you're not floating ideas of players in your position, you're already at a loss as well. We're in such a privileged position to come into these environments and learn from one another and get better as rugby players. "Adaptation is a big part of that. We all want to be on the same page. I think that's what we'll be chasing, is that cohesion and connection." Four years on from his last Lions tour, Beirne smiles that he has "probably gotten slower, put on a bit of weight". He added: "No look, I've learned a lot over the last four years. I like to think, or I've convinced myself anyway that my game has improved a bit over the last four years just in terms of understanding the game and just being a smarter rugby player. "I've definitely got a better understanding of my role, but still a lot of room for improvement for sure." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.