All Blacks need late surge to maul Lions in S Africa

A dogged Lions side that led for more than an hour have finally been worn down and pipped by New Zealand 41-35 in an Ellis Park thriller.

The All Blacks have now swept all four provincial teams and are 1-0 up in the Test series against the Springboks to remain undefeated on their tour of South Africa -- but they were given a serious scare in an entertaining 12-try contest on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).

A makeshift New Zealand side, with only three players backing up from last Saturday's Test victory over South Africa on the same ground, involved all six injury replacements summoned on tour — including two players who arrived on Monday — plus a debut for prop Saula Ma'u.

But their defence struggled as the visitors trailed 14-0 after seven minutes, were down by four at halftime and found themselves behind 35-17 in the 47th minute.

The Lions threatened to become the first South African provincial side to beat New Zealand since Orange Free State, now known as the Cheetahs, 50 years ago in 1976.

But like the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls, who'd already been beaten by the All Blacks, the Lions were out of season and not match-fit.

They hadn't played since May 30 in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals and it showed as the New Zealanders stormed back in the last half-hour with four successive tries.

Two came from Rieko Ioane, a second for flanker Ethan Blackadder that gave them the lead for the first time in the 62nd minute, and a decisive second by winger Emoni Narawa in the 79th minute that settled the tourists' nerves.