Waiting for Dawn...

O’Connell will be moving among his troops tonight, Henry Vth style, understanding the importance of a big, confident performance in Rustenberg. The opposition will be no BaaBaa XV, out to bobby dazzle, then fading when they have to dig in and fight. These are Afrikaaners, out to show their illustrious Blue Bull blooded compatriots that they should be the main event.
The Lions management have made a canny start to the tour selection process, blooding new kids like Earls but also seeing how a grizzled second row partnership like O’Connell and Shaw looks in the heat of battle.
Can’t wait, but will have to…

The Life of Brian

After the dust has settled on a ferocious Heineken campaign, the Irish talisman hardly had time to dust himself off before heading for the airport. Couple of paracetemol for that sore shoulder, and now for the Boks.
Ah yes, the shoulder. He must still see that spear tackle in slow motion in his worst nightmares, with Umaga's kindly face upside down, and a gentle "and I hope you're just fine after that" from little Kevin Mealamu ringing in his ears. One thing is for sure - the Boks will have noted the dire effects on Woodward's Lions from that point on. The current management, having had everything crossed for Saturday's final, will hope O'Driscoll plays a full part in this tour. Despite the fact he's lost a yard or two of pace in attack, his huge heart, allied to his know how at the breakdown, makes him a leader of this pride of Lions.

Shanks' Mare

He may look like an oversized version of Dr Evil, and look pretty ungainly on occasions – a bit like a second row forward who’s been allowed to play in the backs at a training session – but Tom Shanklin can lay some claim to being the most consistent midfielder in the Northern Hemisphere. News of his withdrawal from the Lions squad will be greeted with a wide grin by the Springbok coaching side, who respect his hard running and miserly defence. The squad will be the poorer for his absence, surely, and the coaches will be praying that this is the last of the pre tour casualties.
One look at the end of season playing programme will make them realise that they would be better off praying that Schalk Burger becomes a vegan pacifist…