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Cape Town - All Blacks captain Kieran Read has bemoaned his side's poor execution in their 24-21 defeat to the British and Irish Lions at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
The All Blacks were reduced to 14 men after 25 minutes when Sonny Bill Williams was red-carded for a no-arms shoulder charge to the face of Lions wing Anthony Watson.
And Read is refusing to use the numerical disadvantage as an excuse, instead praising the Lions for being the better team.
"The Lions were the better side," Read told reporters after the game.
"We had our chances and the fact is that we got in front and couldn't convert and keep that lead and they took their chances really well."
When asked if fatigue was a factor due to the All Blacks being down to 14 men, Read said: "I don't think so. I think we had the energy levels, perhaps just our execution let us down.
"There were a couple of key moments where we got stuck in our own half. In these conditions, whoever was at the right end of the field was accumulating points."
