The British and Irish Lions maintained a 100 per cent record on tour in South Africa with a 39-3 victory against the severely depleted kwaZulu-Natal Sharks on Wednesday.

Magnificent defending by a home team lacking nine regulars on Springbok duty restricted the winners to a 7-3 half-time advantage, but the touring team cut loose in the second half to romp home in their fourth tour match.

Next up are Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday and a week later the three-Test series against the world champions South Africa begins in Durban.

The freezing weather that has enveloped much of South Africa was mercifully missing as the Lions defended a 99-year and 10-match unbeaten record against the Sharks.

And the visitors quickly established territorial supremacy with the home team camped inside their 22 for long periods and heroically holding out when tries seemed inevitable.

Lions No.8 Jamie Heaslip did cross the line only to be held up, and it took 23 minutes before they finally broke the deadlock through hooker Lee Mears.

Fly-half Ronan O'Gara converted to give his side a seven-point advantage that lasted six minutes before scrum-half Rory Kockott succeeded with his first penalty attempt.

There was a lively start to the second half with Phillips - considered a likely first Test starter - crossing the line on 42 minutes to drop a hint of things to come.

The big Welshman evaded numerous tackles to go over in the corner for a try O'Gara failed to convert, with his effort drifting wide of the left post.

The home team were fading fast as the first-half heroics took their toll and wing Luke Fitzgerald scored his first try of this tour after Brian O'Driscoll drew two Sharks and passed to his unmarked Ireland team-mate.

Byrne confirmed the increasing dominance of the visitors with a superb try as he evaded four Sharks to touch down and O'Gara converted again to give his team a 32-3 lead.

Heaslip completed an impressive second half by the Lions with a stoppage-time try beside the posts that replacement fly-half James Hook converted.

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