Rugby: Lions beat South Africa 28-9

Shane Williams scored two tries as the British and Irish Lions beat South Africa 28-9 to tie their best victory on Springboks turf and avoid losing the series 3-0.

The world champion Springboks won the series 2-1 after victories in Durban and Pretoria, beating the Lions for the first time since 1980.

But the Lions go home with the consolation of a victory at Ellis Park, which is a Springboks stronghold and, although they lost their third series in a row after defeats in Australia in 2001 and New Zealand in '05, they ended a run of seven test losses.

"It was very satisfying. It's been a tough week for everyone and we had to dig deep," said Lions captain Paul O'Connell, who pointed out his team had won the game without some top stars such as Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts because of injuries.

"It was tough going into the game without them but everyone stepped in and was counted and everyone backed up and put in a big performance not just for the Lions jersey but for the kind of atmosphere we had created for the group ourselves."

Williams and Ugo Monye both crossed the South Africans' line and Stephen Jones kicked 13 points at Ellis Park as the Lions tied their record score over the Boks in Pretoria in 1974. The Springboks' only points came with three penalties and they had a late try by Odwa Ndungane disallowed.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said his team had been beaten by a brilliant Lions side.

"We are grateful that we won the series," said De Villiers, who shook hands with rival Ian McGeechan after a series in which the Lions criticized the Springboks coach for condoning illegal play, notably by Boks flanker Schalk Burger last week. "International rugby is like this. (The Lions) were very good on the day. I always said they were a brilliant Lions team."

Springboks captain John Smit said the loss detracted from the series win.

"I have mixed emotions," he said. "We have got the series win behind our names and if you had asked this group the day after the World Cup victory if they had taken a 2-1 series victory I am sure they would have taken it," the prop forward said.

"We did enjoy the series win but I think today we have to be quite frank and admit the Lions were all over us in every department. All credit to them, we never had a chance today."

The Springboks went into the game with only five starters from the side that clinched the series a week ago with a 28-5 victory at Loftus Versfeld, while the Lions' had been forced into seven changes because of injuries.

After Jones and Steyn had both kicked penalties within a minute of each other, the Lions opened up the Boks defense to score the first try.

Jamie Heaslip broke from a maul and burst 20 meters before offloading to the supporting Williams who was unchallenged in his run to the line. Jones went to kick the conversion from just in front of the posts but the ball rolled off the tee and, as he tried to pick it up for a drop goal, he was tackled before he could kick.

After Springboks winger Ndungane had been halted just short of the Lions line, Williams struck again in the 33rd minute.

Ricki Flutey followed up his own kick and the ball bounced nicely for him to expertly catch and switch it inside to the Welsh winger in one movement and Williams's pace took him away for his second try. This time Jones converted and the Lions led 15-3 only for Steyn to cut the lead by three points with a penalty with the last kick of the first half.

By then Simon Shaw had been sent to the sinbin for using his knee on Fourie de Preez in a ruck and the lock forward was still missing when they resumed.

Under pressure throughout the first half in the scrums with Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira this time unable to dominate Phil Vickery as he did in the 26-21 victory in Durban, the Boks sent on experienced hooker Bismarck du Plessis on for Chiliboy Ralepelle for the second half and should have scored a try in the 52nd minute.

Ruan Pienaar, another replacement, raced through a huge gap in the Lions defense and the ball was switched out to Springbok debutant Zane Kirchner who made the overlap on the right. The fullback had the line in front of him but dropped the ball under pressure from a tackle by Tommy Bowe.

Within two minutes, the Lions had stretched their lead to 22-6 when Monye intercepted Wynand Olivier's pass in his own 22 and ran almost 80 meters for the try which Jones converted.

Francois Steyn was just wide with an ambitious 60 meter drop goal attempt but Morne Steyn then kicked his third penalty to make it 22-9 with 13 minutes to go.

Jones replied for the Lions with two penalties to stretch the lead and, although Ndungane went over in the corner for what the Boks thought was a consolation try, it was ruled out because he appeared to have a foot on the sideline.

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Lions 28 (Shane Williams 2, Ugo Monye tries; Stephen Jones 3 penalties, 2 conversions) def. South Africa 9 (Morne Steyn 3 penalties).