Brian O'Driscoll put in another scintillating shift alongside impressive centre colleague Jamie Roberts, while Jamie Heaslip can be pleased with his Lions debut in a pack which struggled for large periods of the first half before outpowering the hosts after the interval. Rob Kearney also caught the eye as a first half replacement for Lee Byrne who is a doubt for the second test after sustaining a heel injury.

An early try from captain John Smit and four penalties - three from Ruan Pienaar, the other from Frans Steyn - saw the Springboks take a commanding 19-7 half-time lead.

Tom Croft had gone over for the Lions, who lost Lee Byrne to injury, and the hosts were cruising when flanker Heinrich Brussow crossed early on the resumption.

But from 26-7 down, the Lions rallied and a second try from Croft with 12 minutes left galvanised the tourists.

Scrum-half Mike Phillips slashed over with five minutes remaining, Stephen Jones converting both to set up a grandstand finish.

SOUTH AFRICA: Frans Steyn; JP Pietersen, Adi Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit CAPTAIN; Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield; Heinrich Brüssow, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies

REPLACEMENTS: Gurthrö Steenkamp, Deon Carstens, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Ricky Januarie, Jaque Fourie, Morne Steyn

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS:

15: Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales)
14: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
13: Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)
12: Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
11: Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
10: Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
9: Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales) 

1: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales) 
2: Lee Mears (Bath/England) 
3: Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England) 
4: Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales) 
5: Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland) CAPTAIN
6: Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England) 
7: David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)
8: Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)
17: Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
18: Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)
19: Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
20: Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
21: Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland)
22: Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)

REFEREE: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)