
The British & Irish Lions scored a richly deserved 9-28 victory against South Africa in the third and final Test as the series was lost 2-1.
A fluent display of running, off-loading rugby, and a powerful effort once again from the pack, saw Ian McGeechan's side outclass the world champions in every facet of the game.
The Springboks were without banned duo Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger but this was a comprehensive defeat at the hands of the sprited Lions that will hurt the hosts.
Two first-half tries from Shane Williams and one after the break from Ugo Monye - plus a superb kicking display from fly-half Stephen Jones - ended a dramatic tour on a huge high note for the Lions and gave them their first win since Brisbane in 2001.
Fly-half Jones got the visitors off the mark with a penalty after nine minutes, having missed a first attempt five minutes earlier, as they began the match on the front foot.
Their first points arrived as a massive push in the scrum destroyed the Boks' pack, as Phil Vickery got a measure of revenge on the Tendai Mtawarira, The Beast.
Three minutes later Morne Steyn levelled matters with a penalty but the Lions continued to put the ball through their hands and go through the phase.
On 25 minutes, the Boks failed to shackle Ireland No 8 Jamie Heaslip on the right wing, and he burst through a tackle before off-loading to Welshman Williams, who skipped over the line for the first try of the match.
Jones missed the conversion as the ball fell off the kicking tee, and he attempted a drop-kick to no avail.
But on 33 minutes things got even better for the Lions. A turnover in midfield say England centre Riki Flutey dart down the right, who chipped beyond the covering defence, sprinted on to collect and offload quickly to Williams, who again finished with ease.
Jones made no mistake with the conversion this time and the Lions led 15-3 at the break, with a yellow card for Simon Shaw the only downside. Shaw led with his knee in a challenge with Fourie du Preez and it looked a fair decision against the lock, who in general was having a fine day.
After the break the Lions continued to stretch South Africa, but a Steyn penalty brought things back to 6-15.
Shaw was brought back into the fray from his yellow card and soon the Lions were further ahead, as Ugo Monye grabbed an interception and ran almost the entire length of the field to run in a try under the posts. Jones made it 22-6 from the conversion as the Lions fans went wild, believing they'd clinched the win.
The nerveless Steyn dragged it back to 9-22 with another three-pointer, and with nine minutes left on the clock a big fight kicked off as Heinrich Brussow and Mike Phillips got involved. Eventually Brussow was penalised, and Jones kicked yet another penalty to make it 9-25.
Yet another penalty arrived for the Lions - and Jones smacked it straight through the posts to put the tourists 19 points ahead.
This week, there was to be no painful denouement for Ian McGeechan's outfit. The Boks may have been understrength, missing the banned Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger, but this was a wonderful effort from the Lions, and afully deserved result in the context of their brave endeavour on this tour.
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