Two tries from Leicester’s Tom Croft and a rousing late rally weren’t enough to stop the British and Irish Lions slipping to their first defeat of the 2009 tour in Durban, as South Africa edged ahead in the three-match series.
An assured James Hook penalty three minutes from time maintained the Lions’ 100% tour record as the tourists marched on in Cape Town.
Ian McGeechan’s British and Irish Lions got out of jail in Bloemfontein, as they hung on to overcome the Free State Cheetahs 26-24 in the battle of the big cats.
A wonderfully improvised try from man-of-the-match Lee Byrne helped spark a British and Irish Lions revival, as the tourists battled their way to an unconvincing 37- 25 win against the Royal XV in Rustenberg.