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Wales and Lions stand-in skipper Gareth Thomas handed the plaudits to the victorious All Blacks, in the aftermath of Saturday’s third Test and series loss in Auckland.

Post-Match Reaction: Third Test: NZ 38 Lions 19

Makeshift centre Thomas told Sky Sports: “It’s been a difficult series for the guys. I’ve been proud to play with them because we never gave up at any point in the series.

“We let New Zealand back into the match a bit. If you concede turnover ball against this side you’ll get punished. They take their chances.

“The commitment on this tour has been great. We haven’t had the amount of preparation Clive wanted or enough time together, but we’re not making any excuses because the All Blacks deserved to win the series.”

New Zealand skipper Tana Umaga, a two-try hero at Eden Park, added: “We’re very happy to win the series. There were a lot of changes to both sides and there was some weary rugby out there.

“It may not have been the greatest rugby after what we’ve seen over the last two weeks but we came here to win and that’s what we did. We’ll enjoy this victory.”

Lions head coach Sir Clive Woodward conceded on Sky Sports: “The better team won and we hold our hands up to that. I’ve worked with a fantastic group of players on this tour but we just weren’t sharp enough.

“We let in another couple of soft tries and missed a chance to score early on. The All Blacks’ skills levels are better than ours. I don’t think their players are in a different class, their skills are just better.

“We came here to win the Test series and haven’t managed that, so we’ve failed. But it has still been a great tour, despite what has been written and said.

“I chose the top six coaches from Britain and Ireland that were available and we did everything we could. They were top class, we just couldn’t get it going. But I’m in charge so I’ll shoulder the responsibility for losing.”

Woodward added, with a nod to the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa: “This has been one of the most challenging things I’ve done and I’d like to see how the next guy does it. I will sit down with whoever takes over and give them my views.

“The biggest thing I’ve had to learn is to start with the Test side from day one. I’d also try and squeeze a few more games in.”