How the British and Irish Lions have fared in series deciders

By PA Sport

Image: Ieuan Evans (left) and Gavin Hastings scored all of the Lions' points in the third Test win against Australia in 1989

The British and Irish Lions face a series decider for the seventh time in their history when they face New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.

Last weekend's 24-21 comeback win in Wellington has set up a winner-takes-all clash at Eden Park, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30am.

We examine the previous Lions tours that featured a decisive climax…

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1903: Lions lose 1-0 in South Africa

After two successive draws - the second ending in a 0-0 stalemate - the Lions entered the decider in Cape Town with the whole tour on the line.

Two tries swept the Springboks to an 8-0 victory and inflicted upon the Lions a maiden series defeat having prevailed on all four previous tours.

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1910: Lions lose 2-1 in South Africa

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There was more misery for the Lions in South Africa when their return proved equally unsuccessful, despite taking the series to a decider with an 8-3 win in Port Elizabeth.

Cape Town was the setting for their disappointment once more as Tommy Smyth's tourists were crushed 21-5.

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1989: Lions win 2-1 in Australia

Image: The Lions rallied from 1-0 down to win their series against the Wallabies

The Lions' first visit to Australian shores for 19 years and their first dedicated tour of the country since 1899 teetered on the brink of disaster after a 30-12 mauling in the first Test - their heaviest defeat to the Wallabies.

Significant changes were made, among them the selection of Jeremy Guscott, Rob Andrew and Mike Teague, and successive wins were reeled off.

1993: Lions lose 2-1 in New Zealand

Image: A dejected Rob Andrew (left), Dean Richards (centre) and Martin Bayfield (right) after the third Test in Eden Park

The last Lions tour of the amateur era was a case of what might have been.

A dubious late penalty, one of several contentious refereeing decisions, cost them victory in the first Test.

Seven days later Wellington proved a happier hunting ground in the shape of a 20-7 win and a place in Lions legend awaited Gavin Hastings' men, but they were well beaten 30-13 at Eden Park.

2001: Lions lose 2-1 in Australia

Image: Martin Johnson shakes hands with Wallabies skipper John Eales after the third Test

The Lions dared to dream after crushing the Wallabies 29-13 in the first Test, Brian O'Driscoll and Jason Robinson running in memorable tries, but they unravelled a week later.

Nathan Grey's elbow on Richard Hill, which ended the influential England flanker's series, acted as the catalyst for a 35-14 loss in the second Test.

The Sydney decider was a nail-biter that saw the Lions botch a late attacking lineout to succumb 29-23.

2013: Lions win 2-1 in Australia

Image: The Lions blew Australia away in the third Test to win their first series in 16 years

The rivals were hard to separate over the first two Tests, the Brisbane opener lit up by George North's Jonah Lomu-esque try.

The build-up to the decider centred on Warren Gatland's contentious decision to drop O'Driscoll for Jonathan Davies, a call that was in part justified by a resounding 41-16 triumph which avenged the heartache of 12 years earlier.

The Lions were magnificent in one of their finest performances.

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