McGeechan hails defeated Lions

British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan claimed his team “didn’t deserve” to be 2-0 down after world champions South Africa took Test series glory at Loftus Versfeld.

The Lions lost 28-25, denied a draw by Springboks substitute Morne Steyn’s 54-metre penalty with the game’s last kick.

It was their seventh successive Test loss stretching back to 2001, and renders next week’s third game at Ellis Park in Johannesburg an irrelevance.

Several Lions players also collected injuries, with prop Adam Jones suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder, centre Jamie Roberts requiring an x-ray on his wrist and wing Tommy Bowe needing checks on his elbow.

Jones’ fellow prop Gethin Jenkins, meanwhile, suffered a facial injury, and the game went to uncontested scrums in the second half.

McGeechan said: “I told the players I was very proud of them, and that they didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down in a Test series.

“They put in a fantastic effort, and today was a tremendous performance.

“There is no doubt the injuries disrupted the second-half performance.

“We hoped to keep a better tempo and a bit of continuity, but unfortunately for one reason and another we didn’t, and the injuries were part of that.

“It is disappointing we have given South Africa an opportunity they shouldn’t have had.

“We haven’t had the rub of the green in some of the decisions last week or this week.

“In the end, the result won’t change. You have just got to accept it. How heavily it weighs on you, it is something now that can’t be changed.”

McGeechan admitted coping with the Test series loss – the Lions’ third in a row - would be tough.

“We could be sat here with two wins under our belts, or one win each, but we have two defeats. That can’t be changed,” he added.

“The two performances the players have put in have been outstanding. That is a lot of credit for the Lions.

“A lot of people thought we wouldn’t be competitive, but we have been more than that. We have been winners in a lot of areas.

“I thought last week (in Durban) was a very good Test match. This week was very positive, and until the injuries we played some very good rugby.

“You have got to play in a Lions Test to understand the level of commitment that goes into them, and that is for two reasons.

“Our players still see the Lions jersey as the biggest jersey they can wear, and our opponents still see a Lions Test as the biggest they can play.

“That is why there is such commitment and emotion around a Lions Test series, and that has been shown in both these games.”

Lions skipper Paul O’Connell said: “I am just bitterly disappointed. That was a big opportunity lost.

“I am very proud of the effort. It is a big challenge for the Lions to come together as a team, and the more professional things get, the harder it is to come together.

“It takes a lot of hard work from coaches and players to make things work, and I think we did it.

“We have been unlucky, and probably made a few crucial mistakes at times, but I am incredibly proud of the lads for the work they have put in.”

Lions substitute Ronan O’Gara committed the injury-time offence that cost the Lions, taking out Springboks scrum-half Fourie du Preez in mid-air.

O’Connell added: “Ronan is very disappointed, as you can imagine. There is not a lot you can say to a guy in that position.

“We have all been done at one stage or another with a penalty. It will be tough times for everyone.

“We shouldn’t have been in that position. We needed to come out and play more in the second half, but we didn’t.”

Man-of-the-match Simon Shaw epitomised a distraught Lions dressing room, struggling to hold back tears as he faced up to a heart-breaking defeat.

The Wasps and England lock was a colossus for the tourists – and admitted the loss had left him “absolutely gutted.”

Shaw said: “The feelings afterwards were the same feelings I had after the World Cup final in 2007 (when England lost to South Africa).

“I am just absolutely gutted. I can’t describe how bad it feels.

“I just wanted to do myself justice and my selection justice. I was the most nervous I have ever felt before a Test match. Two days before, I couldn’t sleep. Usually, I don’t get that.

“I am a very laid-back person. But I managed to temper those emotions, and before kick-off I felt very confident what I could bring to the game.

“I would rather have played poorly and won that game.

“I think we are all proud of our performance today, but in the end we came up short.

“We have earned a bit of respect, but losing those two games you will always look back and wonder what could have been or what should have been.

“We had a massive edge over them in the scrum this week, which I don’t know if they were expecting.”

South Africa's late game-levelling try - scored by substitute centre Jaque Fourie - required extensive deliberation from television match official Stuart Dickinson before it was awarded.

Dickinson had been the television official who ruled out a try by England wing Mark Cueto in the 2007 World Cup final against South Africa.

Shaw added: “Another video refereeing decision didn’t go our way.

“It was a very difficult decision to make in a way.

“You accept a try between the sticks, but when it goes to the video referee and you are on the losing side again, that is a crucial decision. It is gutting.”