Richard Loe: Brits are playing catch-up

The biggest impression from last night's test is that English, and maybe British rugby, hasn't moved on. Sir Clive Woodward was still in World Cup 2003 mode and so were most of the players he selected for this tour - and that was never more evident than last night.

The All Blacks were sublime but in a different way from last week.

This time they had the weather on their side and a bit of room and they responded with a fantastic display of running, passing and driving over the gain line. They outclassed the Lions in all areas. The British might have called our Super 12 football airy-fairy but they forgot one thing: that type of rugby gets all players involved in the game and teaches them a wide range of skills.

Every player in the All Blacks, backs or forwards, can run and pass and make the right decisions about what to do with the ball.

British rugby does not have that. They have not moved on from the forward-dominated game they played in the 2003 World Cup.

They haven't noticed - in spite of all the talk, all the videos and all the preparation - that Graham Henry and co have improved the forward play in New Zealand and that the pace of the game here has gone up another couple of notches.

The Lions couldn't live with that last night and they just don't have the skill levels that we do.

Other than Gareth Thomas, who tried hard and ran well, they had no one who stood out as an attacker who could help them take the game.

Yet the All Blacks had Jerry Collins and Tony Woodcock having big games up front and Richie McCaw ruling the loose. Tana Umaga played very well again and Daniel Carter was simply outstanding. The Lions simply had no one of their skill levels who could make an impact on the match.

There was no doubt the Lions were fired up and tried hard but, at this level, trying hard doesn't cut it. You need skill and technique and that is sorely lacking in this team and, because there are over 50 players on this tour, you'd have to say it is sorely lacking in British rugby. Now they go to the match against Auckland and the third test and, frankly, I'm afraid for the Lions.

Auckland are a very good side when they are on - and they often turn it on against touring sides. They have more skilled and fast players like Jerome Kaino and Joe Rokocoko and I'm picking an Auckland win.

Woodward can't put his test team into this match, even if he wanted to give them a run to improve their combinations. That horse has bolted. He played "hide them" with his team at the beginning of this tour and has paid the price.

Unfortunately, he talked too much about this being the best prepared Lions team ever and it has since become clear that they were under-prepared.

That's been the story of this tour and it's a sad one for the Lions and I cannot see how they can threaten the All Blacks in the third test. Not unless the All Blacks get really, badly complacent.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY