The Boks hoping to beard the Lions

WITH LESS than three weeks to go before Ian McGeechan announces the Lions squad to tour South Africa, every amateur pundit in Britain and Ireland is choosing their favourites to don the famous red jersey.

It is one of the great debating points that dominate rugby folk once every four years. I found it quite interesting and amusing at times to see the make-up of potential squads by respected journalists and former players when I was in possession of insider knowledge in 2001.

That said, the practice of second-guessing a Test team is frivolous in most instances as player form is a movable feast, and performances on tour both in training and in the warm-up games is paramount in selecting the side. That is even more significant on this tour as, with the exceptions of Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, Lee Byrne and possibly Gethin Jenkins, selection for the first test in Durban on June 20 is wide open.

For the moment, however, I will put myself in the position of the Lions management and cast an eye on the likely personnel that the Lions will face over the course of the six week tour with particular reference to the Super 14 tournament which is up and running with seven rounds of games played to date.

Of chief concern to McGeechan will be the presence of the Natal Sharks and the Blue Bulls in first and third position in a highly competitive table, both with just one defeat to date.

A bit like Munster and Leinster for Ireland, those two teams will supply the majority of Springbok players for the Test series and have a similar base, with the Bulls likely to contribute the bulk of the forward unit and the Sharks a majority of the backline. An outright win in the tournament for one of those two sides would provide the perfect boost prior to the test series for the hosts.

One of the primary targets for the Lions management will be to find an combination to defeat the twin towers of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha in the South African lineout. Matfield has returned to Pretoria after a brief but unsuccessful stint with Toulon after the World Cup and is reunited with his long-term locking partner with the Bulls. It is no coincidence that they were unbeaten up to last weekend when they were on the receiving end of a surprise 36-12 defeat at the hands of the Highlanders, without the impressive leadership of Matfield who is injured at present.

Third choice second row, the towering Andreas Bekker is also playing very impressive rugby with the Stormers, not only providing quality lineout ball — as one would expect with his 6’9” height advantage — but is also increasingly dynamic around the field.

To compete against the Springboks, McGeechan must assemble a combative front five. There is a suggestion that South African coach Peter de Villiers may persist with playing his captain John Smit at tight-head prop where he lined out without any great impact on the autumn tour of Britain. This, in part, is in recognition of the fact that the Boks have two class hookers in addition to Smit in Bismark du Plessis — rotating the number two shirt with Smit at the Sharks — and the Stormers’ Schalk Britz who plays a bit like Keith Wood but with a winger’s pace and the hands of a centre. Scary thought. He is a bit on the small side for a South African hooker, which is holding him back at present.

Retaining Smit at tight-head where he has featured only once in the Super 14 this season would be a major plus for the Lions as it would depower the South African scrum. Sharks coach John Plumtree has reservations about playing him there and has selected him out of position just once, the only game they lost. It remains to be seen what de Villiers will do.

On the evidence of the Super 14, South Africa have a truck load of big, strong, pacey back-row forwards all in form and fighting for inclusion in the Test series. Of those, the tried and tested trio of Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies are very much on top of their game. Spies, who missed the World Cup due to injury looks the consummate athlete. He has bulked up considerably during his enforced absence but has retained the freakish pace that saw him play on the wing at one stage. At 6’5” he is some sight in full flow. Fighting tooth and nail for inclusion in that back row is another dynamic number eight Ryan Kankowski of the Sharks, World Cup winner Dannie Rossouw, Joe Van Niekerk who has moved to France, the controversial Luke Watson and Jacques Botes.

AT scrum-half the form of Ricky Januarie for the Stormers has been excellent while Fourie du Preez, rated the best number nine in the world in 2007 is slowly rediscovering his form with the Bulls despite being outplayed by All Black Jimmy Cowen last weekend. The dark horse could well be Rory Kockott who has been sensational for the Sharks since Ruan Pienaar’s move to out-half. He has pace to burn.

The most crucial question facing de Villiers is the pivotal out-half role. The man in possession, Butch James, has now played continuous rugby for almost two years since moving to Bath after the World Cup. He is in excellent form at present but one wonders how long more he can last without a break.

On their November tour, de Villiers omitted James and experimented with some success with Pienaar. He is a natural footballer but you wonder if he has the necessary game management skills to direct a series of this nature. Another potential option is Francois Steyn but he looked ill-equipped for the role when tried there by the Sharks against the Brumbies last Saturday.

Jean de Villiers and Adrian Jacobs look certain to form the midfield partnership, with Jacque Fourie also in the running, while Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen — who is scoring tries for fun these days — set to start on the wings. Full-back represents another area of uncertainty since the retirement of Percy Montgomery from the international stage. Veteran former Osprey Stefan Terblanche, who made his international debut against Ireland all of 11 years ago, is flying at present and will offer a serious challenge to Conrad Jantjes who played in the three autumn internationals.

With the Cheetahs and the Golden Lions propping up the Super 14 table, the South African sides are not getting it all their own way. It is clear however that the Springboks have a sufficient player base to make every game both competitive and difficult for the tourists.

It will also be instructive to see whether de Villiers makes his front line players available for the provincial games against the Sharks, Western Province, the Cheetahs and Golden Lions or hold them in reserve for the test series as Graham Henry did in New Zealand in 2005. The Lions management aren’t the only ones with important decisions to make.