 Simon Shaw was magnificent in defeat for the Lions
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Ian McGeechan described the performance of his beaten Lions as "outstanding" after they lost to South Africa in an epic second Test in Pretoria.
The Lions led by as many as 11 points at one stage but South Africa won the game with the last kick of the match to claim the three-Test series 2-0.
The coach said: "I don't think anybody expected this to be as competitive as it has been through both Tests.
"With a bit of luck it could have been very different."
The Lions lost a host of players to injury in a bruising encounter at Loftus Versfeld, including both props in Gethin Jekins and Adam Jones and both centres in Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts.
They now travel to Johannesburg for the final Test with only pride to play for, and McGeechan admitted: "There are some significant injuries and we'll have to review. We'll know more later." Victorious Springbok captain John Smit described the match as "a game of two halves" after the world champions fought back to win having been outplayed for the first 40 minutes.
Smit hails 'colossal' Test match
Twelve years ago the Lions won after some poor goal-kicking from the hosts and Smit said it was "ironic" that a superb penalty should secure the 2009 series for the Boks after Jeremy Guscott's drop-goal clinched the series for the Lions in 1997.
"When he (Morne Steyn) cracked that ball I was pretty happy," said the captain.
"I'm proud of the boys. I knew the intensity and physicality was going be tougher than last week.
"We were hard on each other at half-time, some honest words were spoken, but this team keeps amazing me.
"It was wonderful Test match. There was a contest in every area of the pitch. The job is done and now it's time to enjoy this win."
Lions captain Paul O'Connell described the result as "very disappointing".
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SIMON AUSTIN'S PLAYER RATINGS
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"We had a lot of injuries and I suppose they told," he added. "It was tough but we just didn't play enough in the second half. We were all over them when we played in the first half.
"The commitment was incredible, all the lads are so proud and want to win for the Lions."
English second row Simon Shaw was named man of the match after a storming display as he became, at the age of 35, the oldest Lions Test debutant in history.
He said: "It's devastating to have lost in that fashion.
"Geech (McGeechan) has said we should be proud of ourselves but ultimately we've lost the series and it's difficult to lift anyone right now.
"I was hoping it was going to be our day. I would rather been taken off at half-time having played poorly than have lost the game and won man of the match."
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