Phil Vickery hailed the "unbelievable experience" of a British and Irish Lions tour – and warned off those critics who question whether rugby union's greatest institution has a future.

Vickery, who will be 37 when the Lions head to Australia in four years' time, bowed out amid memorable scenes as world champions South Africa suffered a first defeat at Ellis Park since 2001.

The Lions' stunning 28-9 triumph equalled their record victory over South Africa, while it also helped them avoid a first series whitewash at the Springboks' hands and ended a run of seven straight Test defeats.

Far more significantly than mere statistics though, Vickery and company ensured the Lions brand will continue to roar.

"People can question me until the cows come home about Lions tours, and I will tell them straight – Lions tours should carry on," said the World Cup-winning England prop.

"It is the most unbelievable experience you can ever have as a rugby player.I've been fortunate to achieve some fantastic things in my career, but nothing beats wearing the Lions jersey.

"It's just the ultimate, it really is. I hope and pray that Lions tours continue – they are a very special thing to be involved in.

"A Lions tour has to be slightly different. It has to be a little bit 'amateurish' in that you've got to have a bit of fun and drink a few beers, because you have got to get on with people and mix.

"You've all got to mix and buy into it, and that to me is what makes it very special. I wouldn't want it any other way."

Vickery's personal fightback from the depths of despair in Durban a fortnight earlier mirrored an immense Lions display.

Mauled by Springboks scrum destroyer Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira at King's Park, he turned the tables to play a key role in dismantling South Africa on the ground where they were crowned 1995 World Cup winners.

And Vickery, whose impassioned pre-match comments to his colleagues left captain Paul O'Connell vowing to steal them for future Munster team talks, admitted it had been an emotional occasion.

"There was a huge amount of pressure on me with what had happened in Durban, and I was actually quite tearful before the game," he admitted.

"Adam Jones (the injured Lion Vickery replaced) sent me a message wishing me good luck, and it was nice to come out the other end being satisfied with your day's work. That first scrum was fantastic.

"It was nice to come off feeling very proud of my own performance, but ultimately the team's performance.

"It has been a fantastic group of people, and I can't say any more than that. You remember the people you play with, and I've played with some superstars on this trip.

"Someone said to me the other day it was going to be my last Lions cap. I won on my first one (in 2001), and wouldn't it be brilliant if I could win the last one and also get the 50th Test win of my career?

"The whole trip for me has just been fantastic. I can honestly say I have never been on a tour with so many good men.

"South Africa thoroughly deserved their series win, and I take nothing away from them at all, but I felt we just deserved something out of the tour."

O'Connell added: "Phil spoke very well in the huddle. Something he said I will probably take back and plagiarise it with Munster and Ireland.

"He galvanised everyone around him. We were all playing for each other, and we were all playing for Phil Vickery."