The British and Irish Lions are seeking to continue their winning touring ways and notch up a crucial victory over South Africa in the first of a three-Test match series in Durban, South Africa, today.
The Lions, comprising the cream of the four “home nations” of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, arrived in South Africa as underdogs in their bid to win the first series in 12 years against the world champions.
But they have won all six of their warm-up matches, albeit against sides shorn of their cosseted Springbok stars, and at times shown a gritty determination that could well see them rise as real challengers to the ’Boks on home soil in what are expected to be three physically demanding games.
“It has been 20 years since a Lions team has won all of its’ provincial matches leading up to the Test series so it is very satisfying to be in such a position,” head coach Ian McGeechan said.
’BOK SOIL
Lions tour manager Gerald Davies said playing South Africa on home soil was a challenge.
“South Africa also happen to be world champions, which adds an extra edge to the series, just as it did in 1997 [when the Lions won 2-1],” the former Wales winger said. “The tradition between the Lions and the Springboks is legendary and after the six lead-up provincial matches the rugby world is waiting with great anticipation for the first Test.”
England wing Ugo Monye and Wales lock Alun-Wyn Jones were included in the Lions team, the former getting the nod ahead of out-of-form IRB Player of the World Shane Williams of Wales.
Jones lines up alongside captain Paul O’Connell in the second row in full knowledge that they will have to be at the top of their game against the trusted Bok duo of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
Flanker Martyn Williams just missed the cut for the starting Lions 15 to the more physical David Wallace.
Wallace, Tom Croft and Jamie Heaslip will have their hands full at the breakdown, where they have consistently struggled to impose themselves, notably when Heinrich Brussow was playing for the Cheetahs in a warm-up game edged 26-24 by the visitors.
Brussow has been drafted in for the Springboks in place of the injured Schalk Burger and complements a powerful back row of Juan Smit and Pierre Spies.
UNDERDONE?
The Cheetahs flanker is the sole player to have faced the Lions, with initial squad members having been withdrawn from provincial sides, something many pundits reckon might backfire.
Not so, according to Springbok assistant coach Gary Gold, who has stressed that they will certainly not be undercooked in today’s game.
“Most of the guys have played 13 grueling weeks of Super 14 and some have played 15 weeks. I don’t think we are short of game time at all,” Gold said.
“By and large the guys know each other very well and I don’t believe that from a rugby playing point of view we are underdone,” he said. “I would much rather be in the position where we are now than if we had played three or four games and picked up three or four key injuries.”
The Springbok side features players in key back positions who have had little recent game time.
Francois Steyn starts at fullback and Ruan Pienaar at fly-half despite not having played in five weeks. Pienaar in particular will be a target for hard-running Lions inside center Jamie Roberts, the South African having started running properly only last week after injuries curtailed his Super 14 season to six games.
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