An emotional Ian McGeechan called time on his 35-year Lions career by paying tribute to his players for their brilliant 28-9 victory over South Africa in the Third Test.

McGeechan, who skipped Scotland nine times, played with the Lions as a player on the 1974 and 1977 tours and was coach four times.

But the 62-year-old admitted losing the series to the Springboks will be a last regret as he announced his curtain call.

He said: "I think it will be my last Lions involvement. I'd like to thank the players - they have been outstanding to a man

"They picked themselves up well after the second Test. The dressing room last week was one I never wanted to be in - but to play like this shows they are an outstanding group.

"I was worried they wouldn't play or might go in their shells but they didn't and scored good tries.

"We could have been coming in to this match 1-0 or 2-0 up. So there is only secondary satisfaction about this victory because we came here to win the series."