By Alex Lowe, PA Sport

The Barmy Army T-shirts on sale to the thousands of Lions fans in New Zealand boldy declare: "Who do you think you are kidding Mr Henry?".

The answer, after the All Blacks' 21-3 pounding of Sir Clive Woodward's so-called 'Grandad's Army', is plainly no-one.

The All Blacks were rampant and Woodward now faces a task of Churchillian proportions if the Lions are to win the final two Tests and claim a miraculous series victory.

It is the greatest challenge of his coaching career. His reputation rides on victory and that reputation took a major dent.

Perhaps the more pertinent question is: "Who do you think you are kidding Mr Woodward?"

The Lions head coach had spoken all week of his side basing their game on a powerful scrummaging performance, securing clean ball at the lineout, kicking for the corners and then cranking up the pressure.

None of that happened.

It was largely down to the All Blacks' ultimate wet-weather rugby. The pressure Graham Henry's men imposed in difficult conditions forced mistakes which were translated into tries for Ali Williams and Sitiveni Sivivatu. But it was also down to the Lions' own ineptitude.

Woodward had named a team on reputation rather than form, a XV he believed would thrive in the wet.

The pack was outplayed virtually to a man. Ben Kay was chosen to command the lineout. He failed. Shane Byrne was chosen ahead Steve Thompson to hit his man. He failed.

The All Blacks' first try was a prime example. The Lions had tried to rush things, opting for the gamble of a cross-field penalty into space instead of aiming for the safety of touch or the chance of three points.

The All Blacks gathered, countered and when Leon MacDonald was bundled into touch the Lions had the chance to regroup. All Byrne had to do was hit his front jumper and Wilkinson could bomb the ball clear.

What happened? Another woeful breakdown in communication, no-one jumped and Williams plucked the ball out of the air before driving over for the first try.

It earned the All Blacks an 11-0 half-time lead. Only some sterling Lions defence - the best facet of their game by some distance - kept the score respectable in a half controlled by New Zealand.

Wilkinson, whose attacking influence was completely nullified, produced a stunning tackle on Doug Howlett when outside him the All Blacks were drooling at the thought of a five-on-one overlap.

Jason Robinson managed to force Sivivatu into touch and such was their desperation that Paul O'Connell opted for 10 minutes in the sin-bin for deliberate off-side rather than allow the All Blacks to exploit another clear try-scoring opportunity.

Woodward's words at half-time were simple. "Get the ball," he demanded. But the All Blacks cranked up the pressure and the Lions coughed up mistakes to squander what little possession they had.

Carter landed a third penalty and then came the knockout blow.

Dwayne Peel spilled the ball forward as he attempted to take a quick tap penalty. The All Blacks defied the conditions to punish the Welsh scrum-half with a sublime try.

A slick backline move allowed Umaga to hit the line on a wonderful angle. The captain charged into open space and swung a long pass out to Sivivatu, the Fijian-born winger who has taken the place of his cousin Joe Rokocoko, for a breathtaking try.

The storm clouds gathered over Jade Stadium but they seemed to hover most threateningly over the Lions bench. Luck was certainly not their friend.

The loss of captain Brian O'Driscoll to a dislocated shoulder after just 90 seconds was a huge blow and it was followed after 18 minutes when Richard Hill hobbled off with a knee injury.

The tour is over for both men. And realistically it may well be for the Lions too.

To make matters worse, there will be a giant "we told you so" echoing through the valleys of Wales, where rugby supporters had been so angered at Woodward's decision to call up the English old guard.

"If I've made some errors I've got to own up to it," he conceded.

Changes must be inevitable. Hill's replacement, Welshman Ryan Jones, was one of the Lions' real bright sparks. He was a handful in the lineout, ubiquitous in defence and not afraid to run at the All Blacks.

Stephen Jones looked lost so surely Wilkinson, who produced a confident, aggressive defensive display, will start at fly-half next week with Gavin Henson at inside centre.

What price Martyn Williams for Neil Back at openside, heavyweight prop Andrew Sheridan and even Irish lock Donncha O'Callaghan coming into the 22?

Another Welshman, Tom Shanklin, would have been a live contender to fill in for O'Driscoll but a damaged knee in training has also ruled him out of the tour.

When it rains on the Lions, it pours.

Yet Woodward maintains "nothing is impossible" and his message to the troops will most certainly be one of "don't panic, don't panic".

But the Lions appear doomed. Both sides had emphasised how important victory was in the first Test. No positive spin - even with Alastair Campbell on board - can obfuscate what happened on the park.