The Golden Lions used their home advantage and altitude well to hit back hard in the last 20 minutes and send touring Saracens to a crushing 43-27 defeat at Ellis Park.

While the Zurich Premiership side were well in contention and led for a large part of the match, they fell behind in the last quarter as the altitude - Johannesburg is situated 2,000 metres above sea level - caught up with them and the Lions stormed back to clinch the victory.

The visitors kicked off in fine form, and found the Lions defence wanting as they exploited a turnover ball sent wide to flanker Taine Randell on the wing, who offloaded inside in the tackle to send fullback Ryan Kidd over for the try.

The lead was extended by number eight Hugh Vyvyan after midfielder Thomas Castaignede beat two forwards on the blind side to send the forward over.

But the Lions were quick to reply, surging up to the Saracens line and then using a quick tap penalty to send loosehead prop Pietman van Niekerk over for their opening try.

The Lions grabbed back the lead shortly afterwards, as they again attacked blind, this time sending former Scotland number eight Roland Reid through the attempted tackle by Dan Scarbrough for their second try, which sent the home side into the break ahead.

After the break, Saracens again took the initiative, with first Castaignede adding a penalty before Scarborough got some revenge in beating full-back Conrad Jantjes with a superb hand off for a try. Castaignede added the conversion.

The Lions did not take long to get back into the game, as several waves of attacks eventually opened up space on the wing, with scrum-half JB Heckroodt able to dive over from close range.

But going into the last quarter it seemed as if Saracens were the stronger side, as winger Paul Bailey finished off a beautiful backline move to put them eight points up with 20 to play.

Then it all went wrong for the visitors as the altitude caught up with them and they suddenly became sluggish as the Lions got stronger by the minute.

Replacement fly-half Quinton van Tonder brought them back within range with a penalty, before Conrad Jantjes stole a turnover ball on his own line and ran against the run of play to start and finish a move which saw replacement hooker Schalk Britz crash over under the posts for a try that went the length of the field. Van Tonder put the Lions ahead as they gained strength.

Lions captain Wikus van Heerden then extended the lead, as Roland Bernard stole the ball in a ruck, to give his captain an open line on the turnover ball to run in under the posts.

Saracens were desperate trying to run the ball from all angles at this stage, and they paid for their loose passes as Nicky Little, in trying to get his backline away, popped the ball into Jantjes' hands for a 60-metre intercept try which sealed the game for the home side.