Josh Lewsey has hailed New Zealand as rugby's world leaders after an All Blacks battering that rewrote Lions Test-match history.

Sir Clive Woodward's squad drew a Test-series blank for the first time since 1983 - when Woodward visited New Zealand as a player - and conceded a record 107 points, scoring just three tries, while conceding 12.

Those damning statistics make it the worst tour - in Test-match terms - the Lions have experienced during more than 100 years of overseas expeditions.

New Zealand 'blackwashed' them in 1966 and 1983, but not by such demoralising margins of 21-3, 48-18 and 38-19, while the Lions' overall record against the All Blacks now shows just six victories from 38 starts.

Confirmation of their demise came amid another one-sided encounter as New Zealand triumphed through touchdowns from skipper Tana Umaga (2), his midfield partner Conrad Smith, wing Rico Gear and lock Ali Williams.

Fly-half newcomer Luke McAlister booted all five conversions and landed a penalty, and the Lions could only respond through a Lewis Moody try and 14 points from goalkicker Stephen Jones.

Woodward's £9million adventure ended with another predictable defeat and more misery for 20,000 travelling Lions fans, but England star Lewsey offered a philosophical view of the series.

"We were pretty ashamed of our first-Test performance, and in the second Test we gave it everything but just weren't good enough and got beaten by a better side," he said.

"We tried to take the lessons on board, and we tried to play with ball in hand a bit more, but it takes time to develop. Natural ability will only get you so far, and you have to put your hand up and say they were better than us.

"They are leading the way in terms of the way the game is played at the moment, but you cannot blame anyone for their effort.

"If you are not good enough, then you've just got to say fair enough, learn the lessons and tip your hat to the opposition.

"My biggest disappointment is that this group of players is too talented and too good to go down in history as being a bunch of players that lost a series 3-0, but it has happened and we have got to get on with it," Lewsey added.

"At the moment, you have to say New Zealand are a pretty smooth outfit, but I don't think they are unbeatable by any stretch of the imagination.

"It will be interesting to see how they fare in the Tri-Nations. I am sure Australia won't fear them, and South Africa always do well against the All Blacks, so we will wait and see."

Eden Park witnessed probably the Lions' best Test performance during their six-week trip - no mean feat given that they were without injured trio Jonny Wilkinson, Gavin Henson and Steve Thompson.

But once again, they were horribly out-gunned when New Zealand decided to play, finding no real answer as a tide of black shirts again swarmed all over them at crucial moments.

"The performance we put in was spirited - we never gave up - and I think that has been one thing you can say about this squad, they played for each other, no matter what," said flanker Lewis Moody.

"You bring together a group of players from four nations and expect them to become the best team in the world in seven weeks. That is the challenge of the Lions.

"I think it is getting more and more difficult now in the professional era, but it has been a fantastic experience and I have enjoyed every minute.

"It has been frustrating that we lost. As a competitor and rugby player, you take the field to win, and it is the first time I have ever lost to New Zealand.

"We battled for each other on the pitch and, unfortunately, things just didn't turn out the way we wanted."

Even to the bitter end though, Woodward maintained his positive stance as he now prepares for a fortnight's holiday before embarking on a new career with Southampton Football Club.

"I was very realistic when I took on this job 18 months ago. I was under no illusions how difficult it was coming here to win a Test series," he said.

"There are not many things I would change. We've lost, and I accept that. We came here to win the Test series, and we didn't achieve that.

"But I have done the job to the very best of my ability. Professional sport is professional sport - you have your good days and your bad days."

The All Blacks, even without injured talismen Dan Carter, Aaron Mauger and Richie McCaw, were too strong, despite playing 20 minutes of the match a man short after Umaga and flanker Jerry Collins were sin-binned.

And however much 'spin' Woodward tries to put on events, it won't affect the reality of a tour when the best of Britain and Ireland finished a distant second.