The British and Irish Lions maintained their 100% record South Africa tour record by sweeping aside the Sharks. The tourists scored 32 unanswered second-half points after a tense opening period finished 7-3, despite their territorial dominance.

Hooker Lee Mears, scrum-half Mike Phillips, wing Luke Fitzgerald, full-back Lee Byrne and number eight Jamie Heaslip scored tries, with fly-half Ronan O'Gara booting 12 points and substitute James Hook adding the final conversion.

The unbeaten British and Irish Lions went into their fourth South Africa tour game with probable Test team combinations taking shape. Head coach Ian McGeechan again looked at the impressive midfield combination of Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, while back-row trio Tom Croft, David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip are also expected to start against the Springboks on Saturday week.

There was a start together for likely Test locks Alun-Wyn Jones and Paul O'Connell as the Lions took on a Sharks side without several of their Springboks, including John Smit, J P Pietersen and Ruan Pienaar.

But South Africa's second-ranked Super 14 side this season could still call on international forwards such as Deon Carstens, Jannie du Plessis and Johann Muller.

Conditions were dry, breezy and warm at ABSA Stadium, a ground situated barely 400 metres from the Indian Ocean and next door to Durban's partially-built new soccer stadium for next year's World Cup.

The Lions had lost flanker Stephen Ferris and wing Leigh Halfpenny from their tour during the past 24 hours, both sidelined by injuries.

But Durban's old King's Park had special memories for the tourists, as it was the venue where they toppled world champions South Africa 12 years ago to clinch a stunning Test series triumph.

There was an early dust-up between the forwards - Lions prop Gethin Jenkins and Sharks flanker Jean Deysel were protagonists - as the tourists established initial territorial control.

There was an impressive thrust by Roberts which again served notice of his importance to the Lions, but 10 minutes had elapsed without pressure gaining its reward.

The Sharks were stretched defensively, yet they continued to hold out as the Lions conceded two penalties in attack whichy thwarted their try-scoring ambitions.

Roberts then took a bang to his shoulder that saw substitute Riki Flutey warm up, but the Wales centre continued after prolonged treatment.

The Lions should have scored approaching the end of the first quarter when O'Driscoll intercepted and raced 70 metres, but he was caught and tackled by Sharks substitute Lwazi Mvovo.

The Lions' pressure had to tell, and after 23 minutes the Sharks finally buckled.

Scrum-half Mike Phillips sniped from the base, which proved enough to disrupt the Sharks' defence, and hooker Lee Mears crashed over from close range.

Fly-half Ronan O'Gara slotted the conversion, but the Sharks quickly cut their deficit when scrum-half Rory Kockott landed a 30-metre penalty.

The Sharks continued to defend with superb organisation, frustrating a Lions outfit that remained camped in their hosts' 22.

Watched by the Springboks squad, who are in a Durban training camp, the Lions had hardly ripped up trees despite spending almost the entire first half on top.

They almost extended their lead when O'Gara placed a cross-kick behind the Sharks' line, but wing Shane Williams spilled possession and the chance went begging.

The Lions needed just 75 seconds of the second period to extend their advantage.

Croft won quality lineout ball, and Phillips set off on a weaving run that ended with him touching down and extending the lead to 12-3.

O'Gara couldn't convert, yet the Lions had stepped up a gear and quality attacking work by Williams and Roberts almost resulted in a try.

O'Gara then landed a 48th-minute penalty, extending the Lions' lead to 12 points as the Sharks struggled to live with the pace of an energised visiting effort.

Sharks flanker Jacques Botes was fortunate to avoid a yellow card when he knocked the ball out of Phillips' hands, but O'Gara punished him by slotting the resulting penalty.

The Lions, 15 points clear, were home and dry, and there appeared to be more points in the bag as the Sharks showed signs of wilting.

The Lions were in total control, and a powerful surge by O'Driscoll resulted in a try for supporting wing Like Fitzgerald.

O'Gara converted, and there was more to come just seven minutes later when full-back Lee Byrne sprinted over from deep, with O'Gara again adding the extras.

Lions head coach Ian McGeechan was able to ring the changes, with O'Connell, Roberts and the impressive Mears among those whose work was done well inside the distance.

Substitute prop Phil Vickery was sin-binned late in the game for killing possession, but it made no difference to the overall picture and was quickly cancelled out when Sharks number eight Keegan Daniel followed suit after a trip on Williams.

Lions number eight Heaslip added a final try in stoppage time, converted by substitute James Hook for a 39-3 success.