EARLIER this week a mate called me to ask why the British & Irish Lions were the bookies’ favourite to win the Test series against the Springboks?You don’t have to second guess the stereotypical South African response, which included putting the Lions players on a pedestal, disregarding the World Cup-winning exploits of the Springboks in Japan in 2019 and arguing that the lack of Test match activity for the Springboks in the past 18 months would be decisive. Bollocks.
The Lions will have four or five tour matches before the Test series, but the Springboks will also play warm-up matches and be in camp. The calm and certainty is within the Springboks squad, whereas Warren Gatland’s Lions will arrive with plenty of self-doubt, none more so than the coach who experienced a horror losing run with the Chiefs in 2020.
The South African players, those based overseas and in South Africa, have been playing regularly and the most encouraging aspect has been the form of several of the most influential Springboks.
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