The last time Phil Vickery played at Newlands he was on the receiving end of a Springbok hiding - back in 1998. Eleven years later he returned to lead the British and Irish Lions to victory, 26-23, over Western Province.

Not surprising then that the 70-Test veteran prop described leading the Lions to victory, the first time he captained the team, as the highlight of his esteemed career.

It required a 76th-minute James Hook penalty to secure the win, but for Vickery it mattered not that it was a close call in a game that had the potential to end the tourists' victory march on their South African safari.

"The only thing that bothered me, as captain, was running out and wining the game of rugby," Vickery told a media gathering at Newlands.

In fact the 33-year-old prop admitted to being "emotional" about leading the Lions at a famous ground like Newlands.

"I think I'll quite happily retire now... with hundred per cent record," Vickery quipped.

"To be honest it was quite an emotional day today because 1998 was the last time I was here - on the so-called 'tour of hell'.

"I remember that day, it doesn't seem like so long ago, so coming back here and being asked to be captain of the Lions is the most emotional thing I've ever done.

"I was thinking before the game, the older you get you're not supposed to get as nervous, it's supposed to get easier, but [the pressure of being captain] was one of the hardest things today.

"It was a great honour to captain the Lions and I am just pleased the guys pulled it through."

This is Vickery's second Lions tour, after playing in all three Tests for the Lions against the Wallabies in 2001.

He made his Test debut against Wales in the Five Nations tournament of 1998 and then accompanied them on the infamous 'tour of hell' in June that year - when they lost to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, conceding 75 points against the Wallabies.

365

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