HAVING won the first and second Tests, the Lions went into the third and final assignment of their tour at Ellis Park last Saturday with the prize for victory an achievement that has eluded all comers this century a whitewash of the Springboks on their own soil.

Like some very illustrious teams before them from north and south of the equator - it proved to be an unattainable objective for the Lions. Once more, in keeping with their heritage and tradition, the Springboks dug deep to avoid the indignity of a clean sweep, winning by 35 points to 16.

Urged on by their fanatical supporters in a crowd of 61,000, the Springboks won by 19 points, but that was a very flattering margin, a point illustrated by the fact that they scored 12 points in the last five minutes.

But if the scoreline did not reflect the general trend of play, the Springboks deserved to win in what was a very entertaining match, but one in which mistakes were not infrequent.

There was, however, more running and adventurous play in this encounter than the other two Tests, but a Lions back line depleted by the loss of Tony Underwood after 31 minutes and Jeremy Guscott at the interval, lacked the essential pace to make the running game pay a winning dividend.

The Springboks also exposed the defensive frailties of right wing John Bentley and full back Neil Jenkins. Nor was Tim Stimpson at ease when he came on on the left wing for Underwood. The two late tries the Spingboks scored, although well-constructed, should have been stopped out wide.

After finding themselves 13 points down by the 16th minute and 23-9 down by the 61st, the Lions fought back and with five minutes to go, the issue was in the balance.

Indeed, had two fine try-scoring chances not been lost in the closing stages, the Lions might well have drawn level as the match entered its final phase. But it was the Springboks who put in the powerful finish.

The Lions had to make a late change when number eight Tim Rodber was forced to withdraw because of a stomach upset. So Lawrence Dallaglio moved to number eight, with Rob Wainwright on the blindside flank.

That meant the Lions had no fewer than five changes from the team that won the second Test. It was unfortunate for the Lions that they could not call on Eric Miller, who would surely have prospered in a match of this nature. The balance of the back row was not quite right.

The Springboks also got the benefit of that very good start which netted the l3 points after l6 minutes. They got two penalty goals within 10 minutes from new out-half Jannie de Beer, whose kicking skills were of immense importance to his side in an area where there had been such deficiency a week earlier.

Then after 16 minutes, the Springboks got a try and the Lions had every reason to query the justice of that.

Scrum-half Joose van der Westhuizen threw a pass to de Beer that was a good two yards forward. The Lions hesitated in defence, expecting referee Wayne Erickson to blow his whistle, he did not and Percy Montgomery scored on the right. De Beer converted and the Springboks were 13 points clear. That error by the referee was one of many he made and he had a poor match.

But the Lions fought back. Jenkins kicked three penalty goals and by the 38th minute, the Lions trailed by only four points. They were, unfortunate, too, when Underwood made a fine run that almost carried him through the Springboks defence and Stimpson actually crossed the line, but the referee called play back for a scrum.

The Lions had won a very fair share of possession and spent infinitely more time in the Springboks half than they had done in either of the other Tests in the initial period. They had played well in some respects and yet again, Jeremy Davidson had a good match, if not quite as good as in the previous weeks. The scrum was once more very solid, a comment that can be made equally about tight-head prop Paul Wallace, who has had such a good tour.

The Lions backs were very willing to run, but Gregor Townsend was missed at out-half. His deputy Mike Catt never sought the gap himself and too often crowded his outside backs by running across the field.

The Springboks looked vulnerable at times, but managed to score at the crucial moments. Four of their forwards were spoken to by the referee and Andrew Venter was fortunate to stay on the field after stamping on Wainwright. Johan Erasmus also performed a tap dance on a Lion and both second-row men, Hannes Strydom and Krynauw Otto, received lectures.

Eight minutes into the second half, the Springboks got their second try when van der Westhuizen split the Lions defence with a telling thrust, de Beer kicked a great conversion and his side led 20-9.

The Lions attacked in response with willing, if not proficiency, but failed to make a breakthrough. When de Beer kicked a penalty in the 61st minute, the Springboks led 23-9 and looked set for an untroubled run to the finish.

But the Lions' heads did not drop. In the 66th minute, they got their reward. They had the Springboks under intense pressure and after a tapped penalty and a scrum near the Springboks line, Matt Dawson got over for a try and Jenkins converted.

So the deficit had been reduced to seven points and it was the signal for all-out attack. Allan Bateman, who replaced Guscott, missed a great chance by failing to release the ball and then, with the Springboks defence in disarray, Jenkins was badly placed to receive a pass from Bateman and the ball went behind him.

In the 75th mninute, the Springboks eased their anxiety and were assured of victory when a fine attack from right to left saw left wing Picter Rossouw give right wing Andre Snyman, who had come across in support, a pass. Bentley moved too late make the tackle and Snyman got over the line.

Then in injury time, it was Rossouw who got a try and he left Jenkins for dead. Henry Honiball - who had come in as a replacement for Montgomery, converted and it was time for the celebrations to begin for the Springboks' supporters.

For the 1997 Lions it was their last match as a touring team. It was not blessed with victory, but they had served the cause well as they did throughout the tour. They had lost a match, but most crucially, they had won the series.