HOW KIWIS CRUSHED LIONS

1st Test — NEW ZEALAND 21-3 LIONS (June 25, Christchurch)

THE business end of the tour got off to the worst possible start when captain Brian O’Driscoll suffered a tour-ending dislocated shoulder less than two minutes into the first Test. The Lions never recovered. Two Dan Carter penalties and Ali Williams’s try put the All Blacks in control before Sitiveni Sivivatu finished a breathtaking move to seal the win. The Lions could muster only a single Jonny Wilkinson penalty.

2nd Test — NEW ZEALAND 48-18 LIONS (July 2, Wellington)

AT THE age of 23 Carter confirmed his status as a superstar with a masterclass. His 33 points told half the story in a match totally dictated by the fly-half. Gareth Thomas gave the Lions a shock lead but Carter led the comeback with two penalties and a glorious assist for Tana Umaga, before Sivivatu, Richie McCaw and Carter, twice, crossed over. Simon Easterby’s try and Wilkinson’s boot gave the score some respectability, but it remains the biggest points total the Lions have conceded.

3rd Test — NEW ZEALAND 38-19 LIONS (July 9, Auckland)

THE Lions’ only whitewash since 1983 was completed with another crushing defeat. New Zealand’s dominance was not only in the scoreline — even without the injured Carter and Umaga’s sin-binning in the first half, the Lions could not cope as tries from Conrad Smith, Ali Williams and Rico Gear and two from Umaga killed them off. Luke McAlister was an able deputy at fly-half, kicking all five conversions and adding a penalty.