Stats to cheer up All Blacks fans ahead of third Lions test

All Blacks players react after their loss against the Lions. Photo / Brett Phibbs

History says the All Blacks will win the third test on Saturday at Eden Park.

Ignoring the fact history also said they would have wrapped up the series in Wellington - here's some convincing stats to cheer up All Blacks fans following the second test defeat.

Last time the All Blacks lost two in a row...2011

The All Blacks don't lose that often, especially under the Steve Hansen era with Saturday's defeat just the fifth since he took over as coach following the 2011 Rugby World Cup (his record is now 64 wins, five defeats and two draws).

New Zealand often bounce back after a defeat as well. Saturday was the All Blacks' 108th test defeat - and they've only lost the next game 26 percent of the time (28 times in the previous 107 loses.)

The last time the All Blacks lost two in a row was on the eve of the 2011 Rugby World Cup when key players were rested in a 18-5 defeat to South Africa in Port Elizabeth before Australia claimed the Tri-Nations the next week with a 25-20 victory at Suncorp Stadium.

Last time the All Blacks lost two in a row at home...1998

Saturday's loss ended the All Blacks 47-test unbeaten run at home, going back to their 2009 defeat to South Africa in Hamilton. You have to go further back when they lost consecutive home tests however - almost 20 years.

The Taine Randell-led All Blacks side lost five on the trot in the 1998 season and two of which were on home soil - 13-3 to South Africa at Athletic Park and 27-23 to the Wallabies at Jade Stadium.

Last time the All Blacks lost at Eden Park...1994

The All Blacks have gone 39 straight tests at Eden Park, the venue for the third test, without a defeat. 38 of those are consecutive victories. The last time the All Blacks lost at Eden Park was a 23-20 defeat to France.

Last time Lions won the final match of the series...1959

It's been a long time since the Lions left New Zealand on a winning note. The last seven tours ended with a defeat in the final test. The 1959 Lions won the fourth and final test 9-6 - but still lost the series 3-1.

Last time Lions won a series in New Zealand...1971

The only Lions team to win a series in New Zealand in the 1971 side who defeated the All Blacks 2-1 in the four-test series.

Last time All Blacks went tryless at Eden Park...1994

It doesn't guarantee a victory but unlike Saturday's test, the All Blacks will most likely get across the line in the third test. New Zealand hasn't gone tryless at Eden Park since an 18-18 draw with the Springboks in 1994.

Last time Lions beats ABs twice in a row...Never

It's never happened. Saturday was the Lions' seventh victory over the All Blacks in 40 tests but they have never gone back-to-back against New Zealand.