Lions Tour - Highveld XV v British Lions

30 May 2009

Preview By Tipster Jumbo (New Zealand)

Before we start this ,this is the First match of the British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa,here's the Itinerary for those who are interested...

Sat May 30 (3:00pm) Highveld XV, Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg 2:00pm

Wed June 3 (7:10pm) Golden Lions, Coca Cola Park*, Johannesburg 6:10pm

Sat June 6 (3:00pm) Free State Cheetahs, Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein 2:00pm

Wed June 10 (7:10pm) Sharks, ABSA Park, Durban 6:10pm

Sat June 13 (3:00pm) Western Province, Newlands, Cape Town 2:00pm

Tue June 16 (3:00pm) Coastal XV, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth 2:00pm

Sat June 20 (3:00pm) 1st TEST SOUTH AFRICA, ABSA Park, Durban 2:00pm

Tue June 23 (7:10pm) Emerging SA, Newlands, Cape Town 6:10pm

Sat June 27 (3:00pm) 2nd TEST SOUTH AFRICA, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 2:00pm

Sat July 4 (3:00pm) 3rd TEST SOUTH AFRICA, Coca Cola Park*, Johannesburg 2:00pm

Highveld XV:Russell Jeacocks (Leopards); Egon Seconds (Griquas), Deon van Rensburg (Leopards), Hanno Coetzee (Griquas), Bjorn Basson (Griquas); Naas Olivier (Griquas), Sarel Pretorius (Griquas); Albertus Buckle (Griquas), Rayno Barnes (Griquas), Bees Roux (Griquas), Rudi Mathee (Leopards), Jacques Lombard (Griquas), Wilhelm Koch (Leopards, capt), Devon Raubenheimer (Griquas), Jonathan Makoena (Griquas).

Replacements: Pellow van der Westhuizen (Leopards), Stef Roberts (Griquas), Rynard Landman (Leopards), RW Kember (Leopards), Jacques Coetzee (Pumas), Riaan Viljoen (Griquas), Jovan Bowles (Bulldogs)

British and Irish Lions:Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks/England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland - captain), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales).

Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath/England), Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland), Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England).

Right theses the Itinerary and both sides named for this first up game,the Bookies have added their two cents worth and now we get to add ours...

The Royal Highveld XV team includes Cheetahs scrum-half Sarel Pretorius and centre Deon van Rensburg, who have both featured in the Super 14 competition.

The Vodacom Cup is the third tier competition in South African rugby behind the Super 14 and the Currie Cup. However just because these guys on show today are not the best of the best in South African Rugby doesn't mean that we should under estimate them one bit,the passion will be flowing and they will be all out to beat this Lions side,2nd Division they may be but they do have a couple of S14 players and the fact that this is the first match of this Lions tour and the emotion that will come from that should not be overlooked,these guys have the chance that many of us wish to have in our lifetimes they have the chance to be Heroes and I bet that they all know that and will play accordingly.

The Lions have named a side with a fair it of experience but it also has the look of a side not wanting to show to much in their opening game of this all important tour, Players like Bryne,Bowe,Earls,Williams and O'Gara have a fair bit of talent and will be all out to show their wears and push fro test Selection and that's just from their back line add in Forwards the calibre of Sheridan,Jones,Shaw and Worsley and a quick look at their bench and it's hard to see much weakness in there is it? They have brains and brawn which is always a good mix in any Union side and all of these players will be pushing for Test Selection as I have already said and nothing short of a good performance today will suffice.

The Last tour the Lions had was to NZ in which they went very well,beating all the regional provinces but falling to the NZ Maori in a great game and all 3 tests against the All Blacks,however although they won each game against Domestic opposition they were held in games by all the Provincial sides until very late in the games,they best Manawatu 6-109 which was by far their best result but against Wellington,lTaranaki,Otago,Auckland and Southland they were not so comprehensive and although they won those games it was not until very late that the Lions made the scores that mattered and I have to admit that this Lions side is not as good as the one who came here on Tour,I went to a couple of the Games and got to see Johnny Wilkinson and Gavin Henson play which was great and both those players really lived up to their reputations but alot didn't,now while their first up game here is against a side that the Lions should beat easily we also have to take into account here that Rugby Union is on a high in SA and they will be well up to the challenge throughout this Campaign and why shouldnt they be,they are the World Champions,after Saturday will likely be the Super 14 Champions and lets not forget that the Boks lost to the Lions the last time they toured there so motivation will not be missing from any of these SA sides and although this side is not in the top tier of SA Rugby you can bet that these guys will be big and physical and that they will make this Lions side know that they have been in a game for sure.

The 33 is easy enough for the Lions to cover here and they would love to get their tour off to a great start but I am going to say that because these games will be played under the old laws and not the ELV's that these games will be come real slug fests and this game being the first will likely be played that way,the Lions will be short on combinations and will be eager to make a good showing in this first up match but the SA sides love the forward game and so so the Lions and that could mean a close game for 60mins or so before the Lions really kick into gear,even if this one doesn't come in for us I am far more confident in taking the home sides with any big start against this Lions outfit however the match against the Sharks and Tests against the Boks will be far different affairs,but for the opening tour match look for the Highveld XV to be right in this game but for the Lions to win it...Good Luck...Enjoy the Tour.