Woody upbeat as Lions look to avoid 'Blackwash'

CLIVE WOODWARD believes he has a chance to rescue some pride for the British & Irish Lions when they bid to avoid the dreaded 'Blackwash' by New Zealand in tomorrow morning's third and final Test at Eden Park (8.10am).

Having lost the first two Test matches to a rampant All Blacks side there would appear to be very little chance of reversing the tide, especially at a stadium where New Zealand feel most at home. Eden Park has not witnessed an All Black defeat since 1994 when Jean-Luc Sadourny helped France to a 23-20 victory and historic 2-0 series win with "the try from the ends of the earth."

A repeat of that from the 2005 Lions, or an All Blacks capitulation, would seem as likely as Brian O'Driscoll and Tana Umaga exchanging Christmas cards.