On getting the job finished in Auckland

done to the Lions. The referee made the call, so whether he got it right or wrong is irrelevant. I have always said you have got to go with what he decides.

“Don’t make the issue about the tackle. The Lions deserved the win. Happy for them but we are disappointed. I am very proud of our guys.”

New Zealand skipper Kieran Read admitted his side failed to take their chances after letting a 19-12 lead slip in the final 20 minutes.

“The Lions were probably the better side,” he said. “What an atmosphere. We had our chances. The fact that we got in front and couldn’t keep that lead probably showed that we let them off the hook.”

Lions coach Warren Gatland, who was mocked as a clown in the New Zealand media earlier in the week, was delighted to see his team level the series.

“I am a happy clown this week,” Gatland joked. “It is great to tie the series up and we go to Auckland with everything to play for.

“Even with the red card, we were the better team, deserved to win and played some good rugby.”

Gatland knows the Lions have plenty to work on to test the All Blacks again next week, especially after seeing them concede 13 penalties.

“We gave away some soft penalties which is disappointing and something we need to fix for next week,” Gatland added.

“It is a strange game, isn’t it? Normally with those sort of stats the All Blacks win by 20 or 30 points, so for us to be in the game . . .

“I thought we scored a couple of lovely tries, which was nice, and some of the decision-making on the ball was excellent.

“Some of our kicking wasn’t the best tonight, and gives us a lot to work on next week.”