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Springbok captain John Smit has lent his considerable weight to fighting the cause for the retention of British and Irish Lions as one of the main fixtures on the international calendar and Lions coach Ian McGeechan had pleaded that the tourists should be given a 'fair crack'.

Speaking after the B&I Lions recorded a record-equalling 28-9 win in the third and final Test of the series, won 2-1 by the Boks, Smit said Lions tours should remain firmly entrenched on the calendar.

But McGeechan feels that more thought should go into planning for such tours in future.

"Back home we have to ask some questions about giving the Lions a fair chance to prepare," McGeechan said.

He praised his team for what they achieved on this six-week, 10-match tour, saying it should never be underestimated.

"They've played the World Cup holders [the Boks] in their own back yard and have given as good as they got for three Tests," the veteran Lions mentor said.

"It was probably one of the most outstanding Tests that I have been involved it," he said of the final game of the tour, adding: "It just needs that little bit of thought into making the most of it.

"The two major things on the IRB calendar are the World Cup and Lions tours and it shouldn't be outside the wit of those concerned to plan for a Lions tour two years out from it, just as you do for a World Cup ... planning in season structures and everything else.

"I think the Lions deserve that - if you see how the players view the Lions jersey you should just give it a fair crack."

Smit said that "without a doubt" the Lions tour is still relevant.

"It was an amazing series from start to finish, from the day they arrived," the Bok captain said.

He said a Lions tour is "one of the most prized things rugby union has to offer".

Smit spoke of the spirit in which this series was played, the toughness of the games, the competitiveness of the series and how close it was.

"There are not too many games, top notch games, out there that can provide you with what a Lions series provide," the Bok captain added.

"If anything should be kept it should be the Lions that are kept."

Smit also dismissed the notion that there is plenty of animosity between the two teams.

"We've had a good relationship with the Lions players for years, often playing against them when they play for their countries.

"We didn't, and I am sure they didn't, expect these Test matches to be where you get a kiss on the cheek and to be decided by coin flip. We knew it was going to be tough. Now we can finally look forward to getting together, have a few beers and catch up," Smit said, adding that any distractions and animosity that have been spoken of was largely the media talking it up.

By Jan de Koning, on the tour