The first test is today, 24/7/2021 in Cape Town where the next two tests will also be played. The tour has been a strange one, blighted by coronavirus which has led to changes of venue, players living in isolated bubbles and games played in empty stadia.
Much is said about the huge and brutish 'Springboks' but for this game the heavier and more experienced side will be the 'Lions'. You'd always expect a big cat to bring down a medium sized antelope but not so. These Springboks get by on drive, muscle power, excelling at the basic rugby skills and nationalistic bloody mindedness.
South Africa/Springboks are the reigning World Champions and their side is little changed from that which won the title in Japan. The Lions as always are at something of a disadvantage as they only generally play on tour and have less time to prepare and find some cohesion. Six of today's Lions are English, selected from a team that finished below all the other British/Irish sides in the last Six Nations tournament, proving perhaps that the sum is not always as good as the individual parts. The Lions selectors have gone for an adventurous and attacking side. I am looking forward to watching the game, having bought a 'sky day pass' from 'Now TV'
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The No8 Jack Conan is known not as the Barbarian but as Conan the Vegetarian .. he's gone a step further, he's a vegan
If someone said to me at half-time that we would be in front in the 2nd half I would have laughed at them