Ospreys wing Shane Williams was the major headline maker as he grabbed a brace of tries during the comprehensive 28-9 victory in South Africa's largest city. The 2008 IRB World Player of the Year crossed twice in eight first-half minutes on a day in which namesake and fellow Magners League star Martyn Williams finally made his first Test start in Lions colours.
Ugo Monye's 54th-minute interception try gave the Lions plenty of breathing space in a match in which they were the dominant force throughout, before two late penalties in quick succession from Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones put the game beyond doubt with eight minutes remaining.
The Springboks could only muster three penalties in return from their second Test hero Morne Steyn as the 10 changes head coach Peter de Villiers made to their starting XV appeared to rob them of any significant firepower.
The win sees the Lions end a run of seven successive defeats to the three giants of southern hemisphere rugby, with the last victory prior to this afternoon coming as far back as the opening Test against Australia in 2001.
On that day in Brisbane the Lions seemed destined for a series victory yet they arrived in Jo'Burg knowing that such an outcome was already beyond them. Two narrow defeats in the opening two rubbers had already secured the series for the world champion Boks but today's victory at least means it is the Lions who can laugh last, if not loudest, before flying home to the UK and Ireland on Monday.