The view from South Africa: Springboks ready for a Lions series like no other 

It’s an anachronism from another age, but somehow still vibrantly relevant and perhaps even more vital than ever, in a world gone mad.

Rassie Erasmus South Africa with head coach Jacques Nienaber. Picture: Steve Haag

It will be a British & Irish Lions series like no other thanks to restrictions and turmoil caused by a certain global pandemic. But after Warren Gatland named his Lions squad to tour South Africa this week, the old familiar prickle of excitement emerged. It’s finally happening, and after a year of doubt and angst — the Lions are coming to town.

There is nothing like a Lions tour in all of sport. Four nations coming together, attempting to conquer another on the sports field over a seven-week campaign, is unique and glorious. It’s rugby union’s last major point of difference from other sporting codes.