We did not deserve to lose, says Lions coach McGeechan

By Mitch Phillips

PRETORIA (Reuters) - Coach Ian McGeechan was left to rue another lost opportunity after his British and Irish Lions suffered a heartbreaking last-minute defeat at the hands of South Africa on Saturday.

Having lost last week's opener by five points, the Lions looked set to level the three-match series when they deservedly led 19-8 with 17 minutes to play, only for the Springboks to hit back and triumph 28-25 with Morne Steyn's 80th-minute penalty from inside his own half.

"I've just said to the guys that I'm incredibly proud of them and that they did not deserve to be 2-0 down; today was a tremendous performance," McGeechan told a news conference.

"It was the same as last week -- another opportunity lost. We played some great rugby, especially in the first half. The injuries disrupted our second-half performance but I'm disappointed that we gave South Africa an opportunity."

Both sides suffered a litany of injuries that led to uncontested scrums in the second half and forced several players to play out of position. It was no surprise given the ferocious nature of the encounter which began with a first-minute yellow card for Schalk Burger for gouging.

"It was an unbelievably tough game," said Lions captain Paul O'Connell. "We were up for it, they were up for it and I think it was everything, in terms of intensity, that a Lions test match should be."

POSITIVE MATCH

McGeechan, who began his association with the Lions as a player on the 1974 tour to South Africa, agreed.