Smit hails Lions series victory

South Africa's 2-1 series win over the British and Irish Lions felt as good as the country's World Cup win in 2007, according to Springbok skipper John Smit.

Smit led the Boks to World Cup glory in France two years ago, and stayed on to play with French club Clermont.

But he turned his back on a lucrative contract extension to come back and nail a place for the Lions tour.

Despite going down 28-9 in the final test in Johannesburg on Saturday, the Springboks clinched their series-victory over the Lions after winning the tests in Durban (26-21) and Pretoria (28-25) last month.

"This series victory ranks alongside our World Cup win," said Smit. "A Lions series is a rare occasion - I had two cracks at the World Cup, but this was my first and last against the Lions."

The Lions tour every four years, alternating between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. They were last in South Africa in 1997, but will not be back for another 12 years.

"This has been a great series and Lions series have a huge future in international rugby," the prop insisted.

"The series was tough and competitive, which showed in how close it was at the end. This is a rugby tradition that should be kept."

The Johannesburg-based Sunday Times paid tribute to the Lions, headlining: "Record-equalling total and points margin over Boks as whitewash is avoided.

"John Smit and his men tried, but just weren't good enough to beat a British and Irish Lions side hellbent on redemption after losing the first two Tests of the three-match series."