The Lions looked set to lose to the world champions at the break as Montpellier Herault Rugby fly-half and European Rugby Challenge Cup winner Handre Pollard kicked four penalties to nudge the Springboks nine points ahead.

But the Lions were much improved in the second half, when Exeter Chiefs hooker Cowan-Dickie crossed the whitewash and Northampton Saints fly-half Dan Biggar kicked a trio of penalties to put the tourists 19-17 ahead, before former EPCR European Player of the Year Owen Farrell landed a late three-pointer to secure victory.

They were made to sweat, though, as a late try from Munster Rugby centre Damian de Allende for the Springboks was ruled out after a TMO review found that Stade Toulousain wing Cheslin Kolbe had knocked the ball on while competing in the air.

“The message at half-time was that we're still in the arm wrestle,” said British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland. “Let's keep our patience and we will get chances. Don't force things.

"In that second half we got stronger and stronger, and got ourselves back into the game, but it was a really tough and tight Test match that could have gone either way.

"We came from behind and finished really strongly. I thought the last few minutes, we were excellent.

"You look at it for both teams and know that it was a bounce of the ball, it could have gone any way. There were a couple of big calls as well.”

2020 Heineken Champions Cup winner Luke Cowan-Dickie scored a second-half try as the British and Irish Lions hit back from 12-3 down to defeat South Africa 22-17 in their opening Test match in Cape Town.