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 yesterday – 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 next 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.

Their recovery though, from 19 points adrift with just 12 minutes left to finish a gripping contest camped deep inside Springboks territory as 26-21 losers, at least gives them hope.

With both remaining Tests being played at altitude on the Highveld, it is a task of Everest 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 that was a class above their illustrious hosts, but South Africa had The Beast – Zimbabwe-born prop Tendai Mtawarira.