Gavin Hastings: Sum of match in first-fives

For me, the gulf in class last night between the two sides was emphasised by the performance of the two first five-eighths. On one hand you have the best player in the world now in my opinion, Dan Carter, who was just absolutely outstanding. And on the other side you have a guy, Jonny Wilkinson, who is just a shadow of his former self.

Carter's performance was one of the greatest fly-half performances I've seen. He just made things happen for himself and everyone around him. He is a wonderful, wonderful player. He has sublime running skills, he has sublime kicking skills, he has sublime passing skills. He has everything and there was a massive difference in class between the two. That difference enscapulated the match for me.

Despite the scoreline, I don't believe the Lions were as poor as they were last week. They were buoyed by a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium and made the most of that with a terrific score to Gareth Thomas. And it's not too big a stretch to say the miss by Wilkinson straight after that was a crucial one.

He was unlucky to hit the post and being 10 points up could have sent the All Blacks into their shell a bit. As it was, they probably took some confidence from the fact they weren't too far behind early on.

After they got back into the match, the All Blacks were magnificent. It is impossible to over-emphasise how well they played.

They were so competitive at the breakdown - an area where the All Blacks have always been strong and it's what we've seen all through this tour in the provincial games. And they had far too much pace and power in the three-quarters.

It should be acknowledged that this was more a case of the All Blacks being a very, very fine side, rather than the Lions being a very, very poor one. But what I take out of this Lions tour is that they have had an over-rated dependence on the aftermath of England winning the World Cup.

It is time to forget about that win and move to the next level of rugby, which is where the All Blacks are guiding us.

It has been abundantly clear on this tour the Lions are not a team comfortable in each other's company on the field. They don't spark off each other in the ways necessary to take the attack to the opposition. It's been said at length before, but they simply have not played enough rugby with each other on this tour.

It's going to be a very long week for some of these Lions players.

Clive Woodward is going to have to make more changes, but he has nothing to lose now.

Even if they get up and win the third test, it will be of little consolation because this squad arrived here with so much hope and expectation that they would win their second series down here.

We have pride but that might not be enough if the All Blacks keep playing the way they are.

As for the distraction of the Brian O'Driscoll injury during the week, I don't believe it will be used as an excuse.

I would be very disappointed if it was.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY