New Zealand clinched their second Tri-Nations win in three matches when they beat Great Britain 42-26 at Loftus Road in London on Saturday.
The Kiwis stormed into a 24-8 lead at the interval before the home side launched a thrilling second-half fightback.
But it was too little, too late as New Zealand clinched victory after having shared the spoils with bitter rivals Australia earlier in the series.
Bradford second-rower Paul Johnson claimed a hat-trick as the Lions rallied from their half-time deficit, but the seven-try Kiwis proved too powerful in attack.
Brent Webb and Clinton Toopi scored two tries apiece to put the Kiwis within touching distance of a place in the November 26 final.
Great Britain coach Brian Noble had called on his team to hit the ground running against the battle-hardened Kiwis, but it was more of a stumble as they fell 18-2 behind after 23 minutes.
They rallied in the second half, twice cutting the gap to just four points, to keep the 15 500-strong crowd on tenterhooks before the visitors secured a priceless victory with two tries in the last 10 minutes.
Britain will no doubt improve on their first outing, and they will need to against Australia at Wigan next Saturday, while the Kiwis will surely spend the next week trying to persuade scrumhalf Stacey Jones to delay his second retirement.
Jones was once more at the heart of an enterprising attack and he supplemented his playmaking skills with seven goals from seven attempts for the second time in three matches.
Britain began promisingly when Paul Deacon kicked a third-minute penalty after David Solomona had been placed on report by New Zealand referee Glen Black for lifting in the tackle.
However, an error-strewn display by Brian Carney summed up Britain’s shocking first half as he twice fumbled the ball close to his own line to put his side under pressure.
Jamie Peacock, leading Britain for the first time, had begun the fumbles and, with their slick handling and infectious support play, the Kiwis were quick to punish their slipshod opponents with two tries in three minutes.
Full-back Brent Webb scythed through a hesitant defence straight from a scrum 10m out and left winger Manu Vatuvei, a useful deputy for the absent Lesley Vainikolo, took Solomona’s pass and bounced off Carney to crash over at the corner.
It could have been worse had a second effort from Vatuvei not been ruled out by the video referee.
When right winger Jake Webster jumped above Leon Pryce to claim the third try, the game looked to be up for Noble’s men as they trailed 18-2.
But Johnson pulled a try back on 29 minutes when he demonstrated a wonderful turn of pace to score from 40m out.
Kevin Sinfield added the goal and Lee Gilmour was held up on his back over the line as Britain battled their way back, but the visitors struck a crucial blow in first-half stoppage time when Webb took a return pass from Paul Whatuira to score his second try.
Normally safe under the high ball, it took a rare blunder by Vatuvei to let Britain back in the game.
Martin Gleeson was unable to profit immediately from the knock-on, but Keith Senior forced his way over the line a couple of tackles later and another storming run from Stuart Fielden set up the position for Keiron Cunningham to work Johnson over for his second try.
Sinfield’s conversions closed the gap to just four points, but Toopi took Awen Guttenbeil’s pass on 52 minutes to claim the Kiwis’ fifth try.
In a nerve-jangling half, Britain were back to within a score on the hour when Johnson jinked past Ali Lauitiiti to complete his hat-trick, with Sinfield kicking his fourth goal.
Vatuvei was then thwarted a second time by the video referee, but the Kiwis were not to be denied, with Jones sending prop Paul Rauhihi through a gaping hole in a tired British defence for the match-winning try nine minutes from the end.
And New Zealand were in total control when Toopi grabbed his second try four minutes later, with Jones fittingly having the final say with his seventh conversion. — Sapa-AFP