McGeechan hails defeated Lions

12 April 2012

British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan claimed his team "didn't deserve" to be 2-0 down after world champions South Africa took Test series glory at Loftus Versfeld.

The Lions lost 28-25, denied a draw by Springboks substitute Morne Steyn's 54-metre penalty with the game's last kick. It was their seventh successive Test loss stretching back to 2001, and renders next week's third game at Ellis Park in Johannesburg an irrelevance.

But McGeechan said: "I told the players I was very proud of them, and that they didn't deserve to be 2-0 down in a Test series. They put in a fantastic effort, and it was a tremendous performance."

Several Lions players also collected injuries, with prop Adam Jones suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder, centre Jamie Roberts requiring an x-ray on his wrist and wing Tommy Bowe needing checks on his elbow.

Jones' fellow prop Gethin Jenkins, meanwhile, suffered a facial injury, and the game went to uncontested scrums in the second half.

He added: "There is no doubt the injuries disrupted the second-half performance.

"We hoped to keep a better tempo and a bit of continuity, but unfortunately for one reason and another we didn't, and the injuries were part of that.

"It is disappointing we have given South Africa an opportunity they shouldn't have had.

"We haven't had the rub of the green in some of the decisions last week or this week.

"In the end, the result won't change. You have just got to accept it. How heavily it weighs on you, it is something now that can't be changed."

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