Lions coach Ian McGeechan and team manager Gerald Davies have moved to ease the tension between them and the Springbok camp following a fraught build-up to Saturday's third Test at Ellis Park.

Not only did Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha collect bans, but Springboks coach Peter de Villiers also suggested there had been no official congratulations from the Lions on South Africa's Test series triumph following last weekend's narrow win in Pretoria.

That claim was denied by the Lions media team this week and McGeechan insisted today that he "certainly said 'well done' on the series".

He added: "Twice, when we were both coming away from different media things (last Saturday), I shook his (De Villiers') hand and said 'well done'.

"I think it has been a fantastic series. South Africa's finishing has been top-class, as has their defence. To have two games like that, and hopefully have a third, I think everyone will have got a lot from it."

Davies, who was very critical of de Villiers's claim that Burger did little wrong when gouging Ireland wing Luke Fitzgerald in the second Test, added: "Our relationship with the Springboks has been excellent throughout. We've had a wonderful arrangement with them.

"I've shaken hands with all the management and the (South Africa Rugby Union) president at every game I have witnessed. Once the whistle has blown, the game is over.

"If there was controversy arising out of the last game, I am saddened about that and disappointed about that because that incident (Burger making contact with the eye area of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald), dare I say it, has no place in the game."

Meanwhile, Joe Worsley, who has been named in the starting XV instead of Tom Croft for the third Test, has backed Phil Vickery to make amends for his poor showing in the face of some powerful scrummaging from the Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira in the first Test.

Mtawarira scrummaged Vickery into such an unrecognisable state that McGeechan had little option other than to substitute him just five minutes after half-time in Durban.

But the 33-year-old, who is currently shaking off a throat infection, will attempt to redress the balance against a Springboks side seeking its first Test series whitewash in 118 years of Lions history.

"I have known the guy for years," said flanker Worsley, who makes his Lions Test debut at Ellis Park.

"When you do have a bad game or things go against you, then you are just waiting for the next opportunity to go out there and do something about it.

"I bet he's over the moon that he has got a chance this weekend, rather than stewing all summer.

"There are a lot of tough nuts out there, and he's one of the toughest."