British and Irish Lions to belatedly kickstart tour against strong South Africa ‘A’ team

The Lions tour will belatedly kick off with an audible crunch on Wednesday as Covid chaos forced South Africa to load their ‘A’ team with 11 World Cup winners – making it the unofficial fourth Test.

Starved of meaningful competition in one-sided tour games so far the tourists are under no illusions their trip starts with a vengeance now.

With the Springboks’ second Georgia Test set for last Friday cancelled due to positive cases in both camps this game could be their only warm up before the Lions series.

The Lions are set to belatedly kick off their tour when they face a strong South Africa ‘A’ team

So boss Rassie Erasmus has picked his best available side under the guise of an ‘A’ team.

With the likes of world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit, 85-cap lock Eben Etzebeth and European Cup-winning wing Cheslin Kolbe in the team the Lions know this is a huge step up.

‘It’s going to be a really intense game, a trial run for the Tests or almost a fourth Test,’ said British & Irish captain Conor Murray, starting his first game as skipper.

Pieter-Steph du Toit (second from left) is one of the big-name stars chosen by Rassie Erasmus

Pieter-Steph du Toit (second from left) is one of the big-name stars chosen by Rassie Erasmus

‘Since we arrived in Cape Town players have switched into a more serious mode.

‘Now, having seen the South African ‘A’ line-up, it will only sharpen our focus even more.’ 

Head coach Warren Gatland, having picked a strong team too packed with potential Test combinations, added: ‘I wasn’t expecting them to be as strong as they are, they’re obviously short of games, but I’m absolutely delighted because that helps our preparation immensely.

‘In 2009 we had played teams that were understrength without the Springboks and we weren’t quite ready for the first Test.

Warren Gatland admitted he didn't expect the Springboks side to be 'as strong as they are'

Warren Gatland admitted he didn’t expect the Springboks side to be ‘as strong as they are’

‘That’s in the back of my mind so the fact that I’ve seen that side, we’ll get a good indication of where both teams are after this.’ 

The Boks, in all but name, are expecting to be rusty. Having been in isolation for a week after Covid infected almost a third of their squad they were only permitted to pass, ruck, scrum and maul together for the first time on Monday, will train just twice before this game and have named extra substitutes.

‘You can’t do anything at high intensity in your room on your own,’ said Erasmus whose squad have eaten three meals a day separately for the past week in hotel rooms but now have a group of 36 who have tested negative two days consecutively.

‘I don’t think our team needs to do so much gelling at this stage but match fitness is probably our problem. When you do get Covid, you must recover from it.’ 

The Lions will take on a potentially rusty South Africa side after the one-sided tour ties so far

The Lions will take on a potentially rusty South Africa side after the one-sided tour ties so far

The hosts’ build-up has been chaotic. Erasmus has re-taken charge of the team with head coach Jacques Nienaber isolating along with other back-room members hoping to be freed later this week.

One player – whose positive result was discovered to be false – is even driving the 15-and-a-half hour route from Johannesburg to Cape Town this week. But Erasmus says the Springbok spirit is undimmed.

‘We don’t want to make excuses,’ he added.

‘Argentina went over and beat the All Blacks last year without playing a game. They struggled after that, but showed guts, playing for your country, having the same goal certainly goes a long way.

Erasmus has re-taken charge of the team with head coach Jacques Nienaber now self-isolating

Erasmus has re-taken charge of the team with head coach Jacques Nienaber now self-isolating

‘We’ve got guys in our management team who are really sick, friends who have passed away, so those things when you’re playing will carry you further.’ 

Scrum-half Faf de Klerk knows his side will be fired up. ‘Physicality is part of our nature – our guys enjoy the tough stuff,’ he said, warning the Lions.

‘They’re going to be even hungrier for it as they haven’t had a lot of it.’ 

Erasmus is desperate for this not to be the Boks’ last warm-up. He said he will ‘beg’ the Lions to play his ‘A’ team again in Cape Town this Saturday, instead of the Stormers, saying it would be medically safer having seen cases boom in his camp after they played Georgia. The Lions have already rejected that proposal.

Scrum-half Faf de Klerk has warned the Lions that South Africa will be fired up and 'hungrier'

Scrum-half Faf de Klerk has warned the Lions that South Africa will be fired up and ‘hungrier’ 

‘I can’t see why that isn’t the safest option – I’m sure Warren and the guys wouldn’t be afraid or scared to say no,’ he said.

‘My honest opinion is that if they are going to play against a team like the Stormers the chances of infection is as strong as it was against Georgia.’ 

South Africa hope that star captain Siya Kolisi and fly-half Handre Pollard, who tested positive last week, might make the first Test on July 24 once out of isolation.

With problems stacking up, and no one else to help, it is no wonder why South Africa have found and hired this ‘A’ Team.

South Africa ‘A’: Le Roux; Kolbe, Am, De Allende, Nkosi; Steyn, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Dweba, Nyakane, Etzebeth, Mostert, van Staden, du Toit, Wiese

Subs: Marx, Oosthuizen, Koch, Janse van Rensburg, Elstadt, H Jantjies, Kriel, Willemse, Smith, E Jantjies

Lions: A Watson; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Aki, Adams; Murray, Biggar; Jones, Owens, Sinckler, Itoje, Henderson, Navidi, Curry, Faletau

Subs: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Fagerson, Beard, Beirne, Simmonds, Davies, Daly

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