South Africa 9 British and Irish Lions 28.

PHIL Vickery hailed the ‘‘unbelievable experience’’ of a British and Irish Lions tour – and warned off those critics who question whether rugby union’s greatest institution has a future.

Vickery, who will be 37 when the Lions head to Australia in four years’ time, bowed out amid memorable scenes as world champions South Africa suffered a first defeat at Ellis Park since 2001.

The Lions’ stunning 28-9 triumph equalled their record victory over South Africa, while it also avoided a first series whitewash at South Africa’s hands and ended a run of seven straight Test defeats.

Far more significantly than mere statistics though, Vickery and company ensured the Lions brand will continue to roar.

‘‘People can question me until the cows come home about Lions tours, and I will tell them straight – Lions tours should carry on,’’ said the World Cup-winning England prop. ‘‘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.

‘‘A Lions tour has to be slightly different. It has to be a little bit ‘amateurish’ in that you’ve got to have a bit of fun and drink a few beers, because you have got to get on with people and mix. You’ve all got to mix and buy into it, and that to me is what makes it very special. I wouldn’t want it any other way.’’ Vickery’s personal fightback from the depths of despair in Durban a fortnight earlier mirrored an immense Lions display.

Mauled by Springboks scrum destroyer Tendai ‘‘The Beast’’ Mtawarira at King’s Park, he turned the tables to play a key role in dismantling South Africa on a ground where they were crowned 1995 World Cup winners.

And Vickery, whose impassioned pre-match comments to his colleagues left captain Paul O’Connell vowing to steal them for future Munster team talks, admitted it had been an emotional occasion.

‘‘There was a huge amount of pressure on me with what had happened in Durban, and I was actually quite tearful before the game,’’ he admitted.

‘‘Adam Jones (the injured Lion Vickery replaced) 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 has been a fantastic group of people, and I can’t say any more than that. You remember the people you play with, and I’ve played with some superstars on this trip.

‘‘Someone said to me the other day it was going to be my last Lions cap. I won on my first one (in 2001), and that wouldn’t it be brilliant if I could win the last one and also get the 50th Test win of my career.

‘‘The whole trip for me has just been fantastic. I can honestly say I have never been on a tour with so many good men.

‘‘South Africa thoroughly deserved their series win, and I take nothing away from them at all, but I felt we just deserved something out of the tour.’’ O’Connell added: ‘‘Phil spoke very well in the huddle.

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.’’ Shane Williams’ try double and a second-half interception score by his fellow wing Ugo Monye - plus 13 points from fly-half Stephen Jones - sent South Africa crashing.

France had been the last team to beat South Africa in Johannesburg, toppling them 32-23 eight years ago, but the Lions will fly home tomorrow after joining that exclusive club.

Despite showing seven changes following the serieslosing defeat in Pretoria seven days earlier - and being without injured talismen like Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts - they responded magnificently.

And the result saw them match the record 28-9 Lions success against South Africa of Willie John McBride’s allconquering 1974 tourists.

From Vickery at the coalface to the supremely confident Ireland full-back Rob Kearney, Lions heroes were everywhere.

Mike Phillips performed at his optimum, combining fierce aggression with the full range of scrum-half skills, while centre Riki Flutey produced a stunning flick-pass assist for Williams’ second try and he also defended like a man possessed.

But it was up front where the Lions took charge, spearheaded by number eight Jamie Heaslip’s colossal contribution and the tireless work-rate of Wales flanker Martyn Williams.

The Springboks might have been a much-changed – and weaker - outfit after wrapping up the series in Pretoria, yet nothing should detract from what was a supreme Lions performance.

Over the series, they outscored South Africa on points and tries, but were ultimately undone by Morne Steyn’s last-gasp penalty at Loftus Versfeld.

It was that close – an unrelenting, unforgettable threematch series decided by the finest of margins.