Published Wednesday, 03 June 2009
There were five tries in each half as the Lions banished memories of a poor opening match on the tour.
Jamie Roberts, Ugo Monye and Tommy Bowe scored two tries each, with Brian O'Driscoll, Tom Croft, James Hook and Stephen Ferris (pictured) getting the others.
Head coach Ian McGeechan said: "We were very accurate and very disciplined in what we did.
"The performance exceeded expectations. We did the right things at the right times - the players' thinking on the field was first class."
Warren Gatland, the Lions' assistant coach, hopes the scoreline earns his team a little more respect as the first Tests approach.
"I think it's a big step," he told Sky Sports. "We were pretty disappointed with the opening game but we hadn't been together for a long time.
"We really fronted up today and we're pleased. It gets the tour on track and hopefully earns a bit of respect. That's what tonight's performance is all about."
The Lions looked tame in beating the Royal XV 37-25 on Saturday, and Gatland said there was a desire to set that performance right and prove they can be a test for the South Africans.
"We've not been given much of a chance coming here and the boys just wanted to show we're a good team," he said.
'A good victory'
Stand-in captain Brian O'Driscoll echoed those thoughts.
"It was a good victory and a good performance," he said. "This is where the Lions want to be at. We wanted to set out a marker and everyone who took to the pitch did that."
O'Driscoll came off after 60 minutes but insisted he could have played longer and that his injured shoulder is now fine.
"My shoulder felt good," he said. "I made a few tackles on that side and felt good."
McGeechan was able to use all his replacements just past the second-half midway point.
The Golden Lions, whose build-up had been marred by the sacking of their coach and media speculation about player unrest, were blown away.
The win was a record success against the Golden Lions or their predecessors Gauteng and Transvaal, opponents the Lions first faced in 1891.
It was also the Lions' highest points total in South Africa since they beat South-West Districts 97-3 35 years ago.
The Lions, watched by just 12,000 at Rustenburg in their tour opener, were greeted by another disappointing crowd with row after row of empty red seats, especially behind both posts.
They face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.