British and Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan insists his troops are ready to dine at the Test match table after their nail-biting three-point victory over Western Province.

A late penalty from replacement James Hook handed the tourists their fifth victory in as matches in South Africa, but they were left clinging on at the death after a late Joe Pietersen try.

The Lions had looked in command when Ireland wing Tommy Bowe and his England counterpart Ugo Monye had both touched down.

But having watched his Lions withstand a siege of late pressure from the Cape Town hosts, McGeechan is convinced his players are ready for next week's opening clash with South Africa.

"The level of intensity the players showed today is what pleased me most," said McGeechan. "It's great that we were pushed so close but still came out on top.

"We learned a lot today but what would we have learned if we had come here and won by 50 points"

"There's a competitive edge about all of the players at the moment and they're reacting very well to all the combinations we are trying."