The British and Irish Lions came within a whisker of one of the most dramatic comebacks in their history as South Africa clung on at the death to secure victory in the First Test.

Mike Phillips' 75th minute try gave the tourists hope and brought them to within five points of the tiring hosts but despite a late onslaught, the Lions could not force an unlikely victory.

While it was the Springboks who were expected to show signs of rustiness, it was the Lions who were caught cold in the early stages as South Africa captain John Smit barrelled his way over and the clinical Ruan Pienaar added the extras.

Lions fly-half Stephen Jones was wayward with the boot and spurned the chance of three valuable points before Pienaar added three more to give the Springboks a ten-point lead.

On 20 minutes full-back Frans Steyn added a long-range penalty to heap the misery on the Lions, who were lacklustre in defence but bright in attack with Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll linking well in midfield.

And it was an O'Driscoll break that brought the Lions back into the game as he fed England flanker Tom Croft five metres from the line and for the visitors" first points on 22 minutes.

More indiscipline from the Lions gave Pienaar the opportunity to add six more points before the break however, and a push-over try on 45 minutes gave the Springboks a seemingly unassailable 26-7 lead.

But in the last 20 minutes, the Lions finally began to roar and Croft rounded off a fine move before Phillips gave the Lions hope only for the reigning world champions to hold firm in the dying stages.