Post-match comments: Umaga, Thomas, Woodward

Tana Umaga scores one of his two tries for the All Blacks tonight. Picture / Fotopress

All Blacks captain Tana Umaga rated it the least impressive of his side's three victories in the series.

"It's been a tough week, the Lions battered us and we had a lot of changes tonight and a lot of weary bodies out there," he said.

"I don't know if you can say that was the greatest rugby after the previous two weeks, we dropped our standards but we came away with the win.

"We gave away too many penalties and didn't back our defence which had been our strength. They were tenacious, they never gave up and that's what we expected. They played like a true Lions team."

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Lions coach Clive Woodward hailed the Lions tour as a success despite losing the test series 3-0.

Woodward, who has been roundly condemned at home for the Lions performances, denied the coaching staff had let down the touring side and called the seven-week tour "one of the most challenging and difficult" events of his life.

"I think the better team won, we've got to hold our hands up," Woodward told Sky Sports. "Obviously we are disappointed - we came out to win the test series.

"We gave everything tonight but in the end we weren't quite sharp enough, defensively we let another two soft tries in tonight. Their skill levels are just a little above ours at the moment if we're honest.

"It's actually been a successful tour, it's been a great experience. I don't believe the coaching has been of a different class at all.

"I chose the six top coaches in the UK to come out with me - I just think we got a bad run of injuries, we had to chop and change a little more than I hoped to and we just couldn't get it going.

"It's not the time to apportion blame - apart from myself, I'm in charge, I'm the guy that has to shoulder the responsibility of winning or losing," said Woodward who guided England to victory in the 2003 World Cup.

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Lions captain Gareth Thomas, who was replaced by Shane Horgan early in the second half, said turnovers were again costly.

"It's been a pretty tough series but I'm proud of the guys, we didn't give up for one minute," he said.

"That's the thing about the All Blacks, you give them turnover ball and they punish you -- they're quality players."