South Africa 26 British and Irish Lions 21: Ugo Monye underlined the British and Irish Lions' crushing sense of frustration after a first Test defeat that has left them needing to create history against world champions South Africa.

As the Lions regrouped in Cape Town – venue for their final midweek tour game – they could only painfully reflect on one that got away.

And few players felt the hurt more than England wing Monye, who could – and probably should – have scored two tries on his Lions Test debut.

Had only one of them counted, let alone a disallowed Tommy Bowe effort or scrum-half Mike Phillips' failure by millimetres to touch down under pressure, then the Lions would have completed arguably the greatest fightback in their 118-year history.

But they will arrive in Pretoria on Saturday knowing the Springboks have never lost a Test series against them after going 1-0 up.

It is a statistic that suggests their dream of emulating Martin Johnson's triumphant 1997 tourists in South Africa might already be over, but their recovery from 19 points down with just 12 minutes left to finish a gripping contest camped deep inside Springbok territory as 26-21 losers will give them hope.

With both remaining Tests being played at altitude on the Highveld, it is a task of Everest-like proportions, but one the Lions should not fear.

When they watch a video re-run, Monye and company could be excused for thinking it was a sequel to Beauty and the Beast. Beauty came in much of the Lions' back play, a class above their illustrious hosts, but South Africa had The Beast – Zimbabwe-born prop Tendai Mtawarira.

His scrummaging demolition of Lions tighthead and England World Cup winner Phil Vickery was completed with indecent haste, setting the tone during a first half dominated by raw Springboks power.

Vickery found himself hauled off just five minutes into the second period – Lions boss Ian McGeechan mercifully spared him further punishment – as the tourists suffered a punishing ordeal up front.

But their unexpected revival was sparked by Wales prop Adam Jones' appearance off the bench, superior fitness levels – and Springboks coach Peter de Villiers' staggering complacency in making seven substitutions during 17 minutes.

The Lions shaded the try-count 3-2 – Phillips scoring late on and flanker Tom Croft claiming the first double by a Lions forward against South Africa, while John Smit and Heinrich Brussow touched down for the hosts – but those missed opportunities hurt them.

"I thought I had scored the try," said Monye of his disallowed effort after eight minutes. "I didn't even think the referee was going to go to the television match official. But the longer it goes on for, there is a bit of doubt in your mind.

"It will spur me on. If I do get another opportunity next weekend, I will make sure I am in the right position and doing the right things to make sure I can get over that whitewash."

After that score was ruled out, Springboks substitute Morne Steyn knocked the ball out of Monye's hand to deny him during the frenzied closing minutes, by which time South Africa were hanging on grimly, struggling to cope with wave after attacking wave.

"We've got confidence in what we are about, and if we can take some of that frustration into next Saturday and put away some of those chances, I think we will definitely be in better shape," added Monye. "We looked like the fitter team, that was for sure. When we got to move their tight five around, holes opened all over the place. As backs, I thought we exploited that at times.

"I am frustrated. We've lost the game, and I've had an opportunity where I might have been able to influence that.

"We had nothing to lose at 19 points to down. It was about lifting the tempo, getting a try and putting ourselves back in the game.

"Right up until the end, we thought we could definitely win that game. When we worked our pattern and game-plan, I thought we created holes all over the pitch. If we hadn't created any chances, then I think we would be in big trouble.

"If we start like we finished this game, I think we will be a real tough side to beat next Saturday."