A total of 10 Magners League stars started the match for Britain and Ireland's elite as the 2009 Lions began their 10-match tour with a nervy win over possibly the weakest South African side they will face over the coming five weeks.
The Lions trailed 18-3 approaching half-time before Bowe crossed underneath the uprights having taken a deft inside pass from his fellow Irishman O'Gara with 38 minutes played.
O'Gara's simple conversion reduced the half-time deficit to 18-10 but things got worse for the Lions despite a positive start to the second period.
An early O'Gara penalty had pulled the Lions back to within two points just two minutes into the second 40 but it was the home side who claimed the next try of the match through prop Bees Roux.
Solid work and hard yards from openside Devon Raubenheimer and lock Jacques Lombard paved the way for Roux to power over from close range for what appeared as though it might condemn the Lions to their first opening tour defeat since 1971.
With replacement outside-half Riaan Viljoen slotting the difficult extras to Roux's effort, the Lions found themselves trailing 25-13 with just 15 minutes left to play.
Fortunately for head coach McGeechan and company, man-of-the-match Byrne produced a moment of inspiration to immediately lift Lions' spirits as he gathered his own chip ahead before handing off a brace of defenders and stretching for the line.
An O'Gara penalty brought the score back to 25-23 with eight minutes to play but the Lions had to wait until the 76th minute before they finally moved back in front for the first time since the opening few minutes.
Having not long come on as a replacement, Jones battled through a tight-knit defence after the Lions had set up a powerful driving maul following a lineout deep in Royal territory.
O'Gara's well-struck conversion from wide on the right left the hosts chasing a try to level proceedings and it was perhaps fitting that the Irish fly-half secured a hard-fought victory with the Lions' fourth try right on the final whistle.
Fellow Magners League players Michael Phillips and Martyn Williams were both involved in the build up, with Williams finding O'Gara with a sublime over-the-shoulders pass narrowly inside the opposition 22.
Next up for McGeechan's men are namesakes the Golden Lions at Coca Cola Park this coming Wednesday.
With 24 players currently with the Lions in South Africa, expect to see another heavy Magners League contingent in that eagerly-awaited second game in Johannesburg.
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