Game 1 Preview: SOUTH AFRICA V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another presentation on IN THE WHITE. Hope you all are in good health. Today, I have opted to start a new series which will be dedicated specifically to the three match series between the SPRINGBOKS and the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS that kicks-off on the 24^th of this month and set to conclude on the 7^th of August with the third and final test in Cape Town

Throughout this three games I look to provide my point of view before and after every fixture involving the two teams.

To start things off for this series, I wish to build up a platform by providing a match preview of Game 1 scheduled for this weekend in Cape Town.

Thoughts on Game 1

The opening game of any tournament or series is always said to be tough as everyone wants a strong start. This will definitely be the motive for both sets of players when they face each other in the series opener.

In my opinion, whoever wins the first match of the series could possibly go on to win the series itself either 3-0 or 2-1. While a series draw is extremely rare, the possibility of it cannot be completely ruled out given the fact that there have been six draws between them. This includes, a 10-10 and 0-0 draws in 1903, followed by a 3-3 lock-up in 1924 and 1962 respectively. The fifth draw happened in 1968 with 6-6 score line at EPRFU Stadium in Port Elizabeth, with the last draw occurring in 1974 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg where both teams ended-up 13 all. Click here for more stats.

From A Springbok Perspective 

I see 2021 Lions Tour as different from the previous years as we are still stuck in the middle of a global Pandemic which has certainly been a challenge in preparation for this particular series with a few Springbok players and a few coaching staff alongside four Georgian players testing positive for COVID-19 ahead of the second test match in Johannesburg on July 9^th, forcing it to be called off.

This was a major blow to the Boks’ in particular as it disrupted training sessions due to players being isolated for fourteen days.

Another key factor to this year’s Lions Tour is the point that the Springboks have played only one international match so far since their World Cup victory in 2019 in Japan.

The 40-9 win over Georgia in the first of two test match scheduled is certainly not enough game time for players and coaches alike to test player combinations and make alternate changes if required.

Despite the cancellation of the second test, the Springboks were stunned after South Africa A lost their final warm-up match 17-14 to the Bulls in Cape Town on the 17^th of this month.

Prior to their match against the Bulls, a South Africa A side took field against the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town on the 14^th of this month where the Lions were beaten 17-13.

From British & Irish Lions perspective

As for the British & Irish Lions, their tour to South Africa began on a winning note when they beat Japan 26-10 on the 26^th of June at BT Murray field in Edinburgh, Scotland

Upon arriving in South Africa, the visitors outclassed the Lions 56-14 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg on July 3^rd, before thumping the Sharks 54-7 on the same venue four days later.

Three days after, the Lions demolished the same opposition 71-31 at Loftus Versfeld, after which the side lost to South Africa A 17-13, before getting back to winning ways with a 49-3 victory over the Stormers in their final warm-up game at Cape Town Stadium on July 17^th.  

SQUADS

Springboks Line-up

British & Irish Lions Line-up

Expectations & Prediction

Expect top quality rugby from both sides despite the challenges outlined earlier in the Springbok camp and the lack of sufficient game time for players cannot be used as an excuse for not enough preparation.

I understand that a lot of pressure will be on both teams to perform well, especially South Africa as being the hosts and World Rugby Champions will look to defend their 2009 series title in front of their home fans.

While the Lions will try to build on from their last win and just the one loss on the tour so far.

The result is too tight to call, given the fact that the visitors have had very little competition from South African clubs, namely the Lions, Sharks and Stormers.

I anticipate an old fashion kicking battle with game close enough where the fly-halves might need to step-up to decide the winner.

For game one of this series, I give the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS the edge over the hosts as they have played more matches compared to their opposition, which I believe could make a huge difference as the series progresses.

Another point I wish to emphasize before finishing off is that, the SPRINGBOKS must have the capacity to create and convert their chances into points within the full 80 minutes and not just score points in one half and end up defending the next 40 minutes, as seen in their last two outings where South Africa A scored all their points in the first half against the British & Irish Lions and the SPRINGBOKS repeated the scenario in their final warm-up game against the Bulls.

With that, I wish both teams the very best and hope to see good and clean rugby. Thank you for reading.