Test Match Rugby: Lions Face First Test

20.06.2009
British and Irish Lions v South Africa in Durban (1st test)


Preview

This test match is probably one of the most awaited test matches of the year. The British and Irish Lions are a unique rugby identity in a professional era that has done away with the idea of touring international rugby sides.


The rivalry between British and South African rugby sides goes back just under a century. 1997 was the last time Lions side toured South Africa. In that series the Lions won the first two tests and lost the last but took the series. They won the Durban test 18-15. That was the last time the Lions won a series, losing to Australia in 2001 and to New Zealand in 2005


Previous Encounters: The 1997 Series.
05.07.1997 South Africa 35-16 in Johannesburg
28.06.1997 Lions 18-15 in Durban
21.06.1997 Lions 25-16 in Capetown


GWC Rugby Rankings: Sadly do not apply


Prediction: South Africa by 7


Teams

South Africa
15 Frans Steyn (Natal Sharks) Age 22, 27 Tests
14 JP Pietersen (Natal Sharks) 23, 24
13 Adrian Jacobs (Natal Sharks) 28, 21
12 Jean de Villiers (Western Province) 27, 46
11 Bryan Habana (Blue Bulls) 25, 46
10 Ruan Pienaar (Natal Sharks) 25, 27
9 Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls) 27, 43
8 Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls) 24, 19
7 Juan Smith (Free State Cheetahs) 27, 54
6 Heinrich Brüssow (Free State Cheetahs) 22, 1
5 Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls) 30, 80
4 Bakkies Botha (Blue Bulls) 29, 55
3 John Smit, Capt. (Cleremont-Auvergne, France) 31, 81
2 Bismarck du Plessis (Natal Sharks) 25, 21
1 Tendai Mtawarira (Natal Sharks) 23, 10

Replacements
16 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Blue Bulls) 28, 20
17 Deon Carstens (Natal Sharks) 30, 7
18 Andries Bekker (Western Province) 26, 13
19 Danie Rossouw (Blue Bulls) 31, 36
20 Ricky Januarie (Western Province) 27, 34
21 Jaque Fourie (Golden Lions) 26, 42
22 Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls) 24, New cap
Head Coach: Peter de Villiers

British & Irish Lions
15 Lee Byrne (Wales, 27 tests) Aged 28, 0 tests for Lions
14 Tommy Bowe (Ireland, 23) 24, 0
13 Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland, 92) 29, 4
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales, 11) 21, 0
11 Ugo Monye (England, 6) 25, 0
10 Stephen Jones (Wales, 80) 31, 3
9 Mike Phillips (Wales, 39) 26, 0
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland, 18) 24, 0
7 David Wallace (Ireland, 55) 32, 0
6 Tom Croft (England)
5 Paul O'Connell, Capt. (Ireland, 62) 29, 3
4 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales, 31) 23, 0
3 Phil Vickery (England, 73) 32, 0
2 Lee Mears (England, 33) 29, 0
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales, 68) 28, 3

Replacements
16 Matthew Rees (Wales, 27) 28, 0
17 Adam Jones (Wales, 56) 26, 0
18 Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland, 55) 29, 3
19 Martyn Williams (Wales, 88) 33, 1
20 Harry Ellis (England, 26) 27, 0
21 Ronan O'Gara (Ireland, 92) 31, 1
22 Rob Kearney (Ireland, 16) 23, 0
Head Coach: Ian McGeechan