On the eve of the first meeting in the three Test series in South Africa, we’ve got a short video for you that talks about being selected for the Lions, and what it means to a player to be chosen amongst the privileged few.
After a long wait, the time is nearly upon us as the World Champion Springboks host the British & Irish Lions for the first time since they last won a tour, in 1997.
Following the initial squad selection, and a few unfortunate injuries, there’s been much debate for the last few weeks about who the starting fifteen will be to take the field in Durban for this historic meeting of rugby giants.
We now know the make up of both sides though, as thirty men will kickoff the Test series tomorrow in what should be a fiercely physical contest of mind and body.
This video features short interviews from past Lions, legends of the game, talking about how it felt for them to make the prestigious tour party of the best players from England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland.
The lineups for tomorrow are as follows:
British and Irish Lions:
Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Ugo Monye, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins, Lee Mears, Phil Vickery, Alun-Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell, Tom Croft, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Donncha O’Callaghan, Martyn Williams, Harry Ellis, Ronan O’Gara , Rob Kearney
Springboks:
Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Adi Jacobs , Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismark du Plessis, John Smit, BJ Botha, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brssow, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies
Replacements:
Gurthro Steenkamp, Deon Carstens, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Enrico Januarie, Jaque Fourie, Morne Steyn
Time:
02:44
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