Brits hail sublime Carter and slam Lions' tactics

All Blacks coach Graham Henry (pictured) took the plaudits, while opposite number Clive Woodward was criticised back home. Picture / Mark Mitchell

British rugby writers are lauding the gulf in class between the Daniel Carter-inspired All Blacks and the tactically deficient Lions.

Former Wales first five-eighths Jonathan Davies, writing in the Independent, again rounded on Lions coach Clive Woodward's tactics after the All Blacks' 48-18 second test victory.

"No matter how much praise is showered on this New Zealand team - and there can't be too much - there is no dodging the fact that the Lions were very disappointing and tactically so poor," Davies wrote.

"I can't understand why players like Gavin Henson and Gareth Thomas weren't used to attack the gain line early and give their forwards a target. That's why I can't recall the Lions winning any good quality second-phase ball.

"New Zealand had plenty because their forwards were never short of a target and their work at the breakdown was superb."

Former England lock Paul Ackford joined in the Carter superlatives in the Telegraph, labelling his contribution "sublime", and hailing him "the new superstar of the global game, beyond any question".

"In some ways this was worse than the Christchurch fiasco," Ackford wrote.

"There, the Lions had the excuse of a dysfunctional lineout to fall back on. Last night it was across all areas of the game where the gulf in class was evident.

"The All Blacks to a man were better than the Lions, but in Daniel Carter we saw one of the finest international displays at outside-half, even if he did have the ball on tap, with Byron Kelleher outstanding inside him."

Former Lions and Wales wing Ieuan Evans, writing in the Telegraph, said Woodward's extended squad and lack of match time for his test side were clear blunders.

"The tour went wrong the moment such a huge squad was selected. How interesting that yesterday the two standout performers were Llanelli and Ireland's Simon Easterby and the young Wales No 8 Ryan Jones - two players not even in the vast initial party," Evans wrote.

"It was not just selection that was disjointed with such a big squad. It was the fact that rotating the players on the shortest tour in Lions history meant no tempo and rhythm was created.

"Forget the power of four. This was the confusion of 50."

- NZPA