The British & Irish Lions almost staged one of the greatest comebacks in their history - but came up just short in a pulsating 26-21 first Test defeat at a sun-soaked ABSA Stadium in Durban.
An assured kicking display from Springbok fly-half Ruan Pienaar and some fearsome forward power looked to have blown the tourists away only for Ian McGeechan's side to fight back from 26-7 down and nearly shock the Boks, who were hanging on desperately at the end.
The hosts dominated the set-piece, out-muscled the Lions at the breakdown and scored points with ruthless efficency in the first 60 minutes but after that the visitors took control as Boks coach Peter de Villiers brought off his key performers.
Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts were magnificent in midfield, while Welshman Stephen Jones has a serious off day at fly-half. But the Lions simply could not contain the Springboks as a high penalty count and three near misses on the try line cost them in the final reckoning.
After just two minutes Jones missed a difficult penalty attempt, which set the tone for his individual display, before South Africa skipper John Smit settled any home nerves with a brilliant try.
The Lions lost their very first line-out and from the resulting pressure Smit collected a Fourie du Preez pass and smashed through challenges by Tom Croft and Roberts to dive over. Pienaar converted.
Four minutes later and Lions fans were roaring as Ugo Monye crossed in the corner - but a heroic effort from South African centre Jean de Villiers saw him hold the ball up and save his team.
Francois Steyn soon added three points to make it 13-0, but the Lions were back in the match after a superb score finished by England flanker Tom Croft.
Roberts broke down the right and found O'Driscoll in space on the inside, and as the Ireland skipper approached the line he had the awareness to offload to Croft.
But the line-out and scrum were serious issues for the Lions - Vickery was constantly in trouble against 'The Beast', Tendai Mtawarira, while Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha predictably dominated the line-out.
Pienaar slotted two more penalties, while Steyn scored a long-range effort, as things began to look bleak for the tourists. Full-back Lee Byrne was forced off just before half-time with a heel injury, replaced by Ireland's Rob Kearney.
With a 12-point difference at half-time the tourists were still in the match - just - but six minutes after break it looked like it was game over. The Lions pack was pulverised by a powerful rolling maul and Heinrich Brussow touched down, but it was a team try, and Pienaar's conversion made it 26-7.
Four minutes later No 9 Mike Phillips came desperately close to a five-pointer only for Botha to knock the ball out of his hands.
The Lions were over again on 68 minutes, working through countless phases and several Springbok infringements before O'Driscoll again offloaded to Croft who scored his second.
That made it 26-14 with 12 minutes left; and all was not lost for the Lions. Monye was nearly over for a try in the corner as the Lions constructed another flowing move but again, the ball was spilt on the line and the Boks, who were genuinely rattled, managed to survive.
Phillips darted over for a try and Jones converted to set up an unbelievably tense finish, only for the Lions to fall just short.
But they have given the world champions something serious to think about ahead of the second Test at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday.
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