The All Blacks clinched a crushing series victory over the 2005 Lions with an emphatic 48-18 success in Saturday's second Test in Wellington.

Daniel Carter was the star of the show with 33 points as the home side crushed the tourists inside the 'Cake Tin'.

It had all looked so promising for a much-changed Lions team when Gareth Thomas broke through for an early try which Jonny Wilkinson converted.

But that 7-0 lead soon became a 13-7 deficit when Carter booted two penalties and controversial skipper Tana Umaga burst through for the first All Black try (which Carter converted).

Two Wilkinson penalties and one from Carter then saw it stand at 16-13 approaching half-time, when Sitiveni Sivivatu finished off a fine move by diving over in the corner.

At 21-13 the first scores of the second half were crucial, and it was the All Blacks who struck.

Carter kicked another penalty before racing over for his first score and booting the extras. Another penalty made it 34-13 before Simon Easterby scored a Lions try.

Any faint hopes of a comeback were stamped on quickly though as Carter and Richie McCaw scored tries which Carter converted for the final crushing margin of victory.

The All Blacks now lead the three-Test series 2-0 with the final game to come in Auckland's Eden Park next Saturday morning.

And Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward admitted his side had lost to an "outstanding" team.

He told Sky Sports: "We are bitterly disappointed. I though the guys were fantastic, they played right to the last minute. I wouldn't say they are a better team than us but they are an outstanding team."

Woodward's opposite number Graham Henry - who coached the Lions in 2001 - paid tribute to the battling tourists.

Henry told Sky Sports: "The Lions played well. We have to give them some credit. They played better than last week but our guys were up 20% on last week. But Daniel Carter was quite amazing, he had a superb game."