The Lions completed their disappointing rugby tour of New Zealand in all-too familiar style, going down 38-19 to the All Blacks in the third test at Eden Park here tonight.

In a game that bore similarities to last weekend's second test, the All Blacks had too much pace and finishing power, scoring five tries to one to secure a one-sided series 3-0.

It was the All Blacks' third series clean sweep of the Lions, following the feats of their 1966 and 1983 predecessors, although their performance tonight was slightly less convincing than the first two tests, possibly because the series was already clinched.

All Blacks captain Tana Umaga, who was sinbinned early in the first half, scored two tries either side of halftime which was enough to propel the hosts to a decisive 31-12 lead with 30 minutes remaining before the game degenerated as spectacle.

The Lions were committed to the end, but their inability to finish off attacking situations told, their only try a driving second-half effort from flanker Lewis Moody.

That was despite creating more opportunities than in either of the first two tests -- won by the All Blacks 21-3 in Christchurch and 48-18 in Wellington.

Moody's try came while All Blacks flanker Jerry Collins was in the sinbin, the second New Zealander to receive a yellow card.

The match, played in front of 47,500 was dogged by intermittent rain but that didn't prevent a fast-moving first half.

The second spell wasn't the same spectacle as two tired teams suffered injuries and committed more basic errors and infringements.

It was an emotional night for long-serving halfback Justin Marshall, who came off the reserve bench to play the last 34 minutes.

As he ran on he was embraced by the man he replaced, long-time understudy Byron Kelleher.

One of Marshall's first acts was to throw a short pass to Umaga for his second try, which effectively sealed the result.

The All Blacks were missing two of their premier players from last week, flanker Richie McCaw and first five-eighth Daniel Carter.

At times they missed the influence of McCaw at the breakdown, with the Lions more competitive in that area than the first two tests.

Carter's replacement, Luke McAlister, made an encouraging debut, kicking six from six shots at goal for a 13-point haul and defending well although he was prone to overusing short, attacking kicks which were largely defused by the Lions.

There was a flurry of early scoring, and as was the case last week the Lions made a passionate start -- a third minute penalty from Jones stemming from a tight rolling maul.

The Lions surged again five minutes later, lock Donncha O'Callaghan being stopped inches short before Umaga committed a professional foul, for which he spent 10 minutes on the sideline.

Jones kicked another penalty but just moments later the All Blacks snatched the lead through a Conrad Smith try.

The centre was put in space down the blindside off a quick pass by Wellington teammate Jerry Collins and a neat cut inside was met with a weak attempted tackle by fullback Geordan Murphy.

In the 14th minute a tantalising McAlister grubber across the Lions' tryline was fumbled by defending halfback Dwayne Peel, allowing All Blacks lock Ali Williams to dive on the ball and score.

A third Jones penalty reduced New Zealand's lead to 14-9 but some silly chatting to the referee by prop Julian White conceded 10m from a scrum penalty on halfway, enough to put McAlister into range for a successful shot.

The young first five-eighth had his best moment a minute before the break when he jinked from an attacking scrum, busting through two tacklers before off-loading to Umaga, who scored next to the posts to take the lead to 24-12 into the changing rooms.

Umaga has his second eight minutes after halftime to round out a superb series.

All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu appeared to have scored a try from an audacious kick by lock Chris Jack.

However, play was called back for a late tackle by Collins witnessed by touch judge Stu Dickinson, for which the flanker was sinbinned.

Soon afterwards referee Lions sideline official Mike Ford was warned for too much chat as the match became heated.

A Lions maul was held up over the tryline as the Lions hammered away, with Moody eventually being driven over by his pack.

The game failed to flow over the last 20 minutes before a superb chip and chase try to winger Rico Gear, which began when he defused a Lions kick on halfway. McAlister converted from the sideline.

The All Blacks squad for the Tri-Nations series was to be named tomorrow.

NZPA