First Test success vital for a winning series

There is always a special feel to the first Test of any Lions series in South Africa, a step into the unknown for the vast majority of those involved. All sorts of questions and hopes hang heavily in the air.

-  BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Can the Lions actually gel and put a proper performance together in the heat of battle and will the Boks be a little ring-rusty and vulnerable? These are the perennial questions even if on this occasion the ferocious South Africa A match in midweek felt like an unofficial Test and ‘ice breaker’ and would have provided mountains of food for thought for both camps. In that respect both camps are unusually up to pace.

But, of course, pandemic issues and the building political unrest and violence in the streets in South Africa adds an extra dimension. Will the game even take place – anything could happen in the next six days – and what does a Lions Test series against the Boks actually look and feel like when it’s played in empty stadia.

We are about to find out but my prediction is the usual quota of drama, excellence and controversy will ensue. Both teams know how important it is to get off to a win and the record in the 13 first Tests between the two sides dating back to 1891 is pretty even: six Boks wins, five for the Lions and two draws. The Lions in South Africa have only ever won the series when they triumph in the first Test.

There have been tales to tell. First and foremost is probably the Lions historic 23-22 win at Ellis Park in 1955 in front of a then world-record crowd of 90,000, indeed some police estimates said 95,000. This was the first time the Lions had played in apartheid South Africa – the hateful legislation had been introduced in 1948 – although the de facto subjugation of the blacks and ethnic minorities was clear to see long before.