No excuses from sorry Corry
Martin Corry tonight assessed the alarming first Test demise of the Lions, and admitted: "It was not a performance we can be proud of."
England number eight Corry is favourite to replace Brian O'Driscoll as captain for next Saturday's second Test in Wellington.
Dislocated shoulder victim O'Driscoll is out of the tour, together with flanker Richard Hill (twisted knee) and centre Tom Shanklin (knee inflammation) following a demoralising day when the All Blacks powered to a 21-3 victory.
"From all the 15 players who were on the field at any one time, we were all under par," said Corry.
"It is a case of not hiding - we were all poor. That is not a performance we can be proud of. Representing the Lions, you want to have fond memories, but today wasn't one of them.
"This is a huge occasion for us - just look at the tremendous support we've got here. This is the reason we put ourselves through all the training to be on a stage like this one, but we just didn't do it.
"The All Blacks were very good - they played an exceptional game - but we've got to improve our performance so much on today."
The Lions' major problem was a shambolic lineout that saw them lose eight on their own throw, while they also missed 20 tackles - 14 more than New Zealand - and made just one clean line-break in the whole match.
Asked to explain the lineout malaise, lock Paul O'Connell said: " It was a few missed calls, and it just got worse as we went on.
"Every lineout has a day like that, and we will put it behind us. There is nothing that can't be fixed."
Whether O'Connell, who was sin-binned in the first half, features next weekend is debatable, but the All Blacks have no such problems after their forwards dominated in all areas from start to finish.
Welsh back-row forward Ryan Jones, who replaced Hill just 18 minutes into the action, typified the Lions' determination to bounce back from a miserable experience in equally depressing weather conditions.
"We can't fly out another 22 players, it's down to us," he said. "I certainly know if I am involved next week, I will give 100% again.
"That is the attitude of the boys - we are all competitive people by nature. No-one likes losing, and we've lost to the better team on the day and there is no getting away from that.
"We have to front up. If it's 1-1 next week, then game on. If it's 2-0, then that is life and that's sport.
"We have to move on, and the biggest thing is not to let ourselves down. We have come out here and are playing against arguably the best team in the world, and we want to put on one of the best performances in the world.
"There are no excuses, and we are not going to hide. We've just got to go back to the drawing board."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry saluted his forwards, claiming: "It was our best lineout performance of the past two years.
"A lot of credit goes to the tight five, I thought they outplayed the Lions. The scrum was good, and they were dominant around the field.
"People have now got to keep their feet on the ground and build for the next Test, and I am sure they will do that. The Lions will certainly play a lot better next week."
All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen added: "We are very happy with the lineout - it was a good effort from the boys out there.
"We felt their (Lions') tight five was something they thought was a strength, and like any strength, you have got to attack it. If you can take it off them, you get to question them a wee bit.
"The forwards have drawn a line in the sand, but you've got to remember it is a three-Test series, and unless we repeat it next week, this will all be for nothing."
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