Veteran prop Phil Vickery has signed off on his British and Irish Lions career with a record-equalling victory over South Africa at the weekend, but the affable front row forward was full of praise for the Springboks for their series victory.

Speaking after the Lions salvaged their tour with a 28-9 win in the final Test in Johannesburg at the weekend, Vickery admitted to having a bitter-sweet taste over the win - which equalled the 19-point margin set by the Lions in Pretoria in 1974.

Having made his Lions Test debut against the Wallabies in 2001, Vickery made his second Lions tour on the trip to South Africa to take his Lions caps to six - to go with his 73 England caps.

But as was the case on his first Lions venture, Vickery had to be content with a 1-2 series loss.

"That's the game, that's why we all love sport," he said, when asked about winning the third Test, but losing the series to the Boks.

"You can't take anything away from the South Africans, they deserved their series win," Vickery said, adding: "In high-end sport and high-end business it is very small margins.

"There wasn't much to choose between the two teams in the three Tests and the South Africans deserved their victory."

He admitted that getting one over on Bok strongman Tendai Mtawarira in the final Test, after the mauling he took from the South African in the first international, was a satisfactory way to finish a Lions career.

"We're all human and I was fairly disappointed with my performance in the first Test," he said, adding that there was a "huge amount" of pressure on him after what had happened in Durban.

"I was actually quite tearful before the game," he said of the Johannesburg Test, adding: "Adam Jones [whom Vickery replaced after the latter injured his shoulder in the second Test] sent me a message wishing me good luck, and it was nice to come out the other end being satisfied with your day's work. That first scrum was fantastic.

"It was nice to come off feeling very proud of my own performance, but ultimately the team's performance."

It is also significant that in his last Lions international the 33-year-old Vickery got the 50th Test win of his career.

Vickery, like so many players and officials this weekend, said that the tradition of Lions tours is something that should be maintained.

Although there are some issues that need to be dealt with - such as better and more preparation time as advocated by head coach Ian McGeechan - Vickery feels just being part of the tour is already enough.

"The whole idea of the Lions is that you are chucking guys together. You got to mix in, you got to get on and move on, buy into it and that to me is what makes it very, very special.

"I wouldn't want it to be any other way."

He said any suggestion of canning Lions tours is beyond comprehension.

"People can question me until the cows come home about Lions tours, and I will tell them straight – Lions tours should carry on.

"It is the most unbelievable experience you can ever have as a rugby player.

"I've been fortunate to achieve some fantastic things in my career, but nothing beats wearing the Lions jersey.

"It's just the ultimate, it really is. I hope and pray that Lions tours continue – they are a very special thing to be involved in."

Vickery also received high praise from Lions captain Paul O'Connell for the 'leadership' role he played on tour.

"Phil spoke very well in the huddle," O'Connell told a media gathering in Johannesburg.

"Something he said I will probably take back and plagiarise it with Munster and Ireland.

"He galvanised everyone around him. We were all playing for each other, and we were all playing for Phil Vickery."

365

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