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.

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

"I've always said you have to play in a Lions test to understand the commitment level that goes into them," he said. "It's still the biggest jersey for our guys to wear and for opposition sides it is still the biggest challenge."

Saturday's match will live long in the memory, and not just for the spectacular finale. It was a game that had everything and McGeechan said the unloading of the controversial Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) had much to do with it.

"I certainly hope people enjoyed it. It was a very positive match and we were playing a lot of rugby," said the Scot. "Since they've kicked the ELVs out we've got global laws again and I think we are benefiting from that."

The defeat was the Lions' seventh in a row, their worst run, with their last victory coming in the first test against Australia in 2001. Though next Saturday's game at Ellis Park is a dead rubber, Paul O'Connell said there would be no shortage of motivation.

"You'd think the guys would need galvanising at 2-0 down but after the way we've played I think they will be looking forward to it," he said. "I don't think it's going to be that difficult to lift them."