Boks basically at full strength for first Lions test

A series that has had much of its stuffing knocked out of it due to the lack of fans, last weeks SA ‘A’ victory over the Lions has stoked the fire for this weekend’s first test match.

Both sides have received fitness boosts going into the test week but it might be the hosts that will be smiling a relieved smile as they welcome back skipper Siya Kolisi, flyhalf Handre Pollard, Lood de Jager and Bongi Mbonambi back this week.

Despite players like Kolisi, Ox Nché and Makazole Mapimpi re-joining the squad they still need official sign-off to return to play which will be finalised early in the week.

For a player like Pollard, who has missed a lot of the last season due to injury, the attention will be on him throughout the series but he’s excited for what’s to come.

“This morning when you walked into the team room there was a different vibe,” Pollard said. “We realise that it’s a big challenge lying ahead of us over the next three weeks and having everyone back is lovely and it’s time to go now.

“The prep, the talk, it’s all finished now and it’s time to get stuck into these next three test matches.”

With ten days of isolation behind him and couple of the other players, Pollard has been able to use that time as a period of focus on the opposition that they will be facing over the next three weeks.

“We’ve been analysing them as hard as we possibly can especially in isolation where we’ve got all the time on our hands!

“We’ve been getting stuck into every player in their squad and we have a fair idea of what is coming and it’s about executing on the day and playing for the full eighty minutes,” Pollard added.

With the first test match just five days away, Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick knows the side are raring to go.

“We have the entire group back in camp as the last players arrived today (Monday), and being a Test week, things will go back to 100 percent.

“It probably worked out for us because we have a full squad for this week.

“We now have to focus on what we do best, and we have a few experienced guys back like Handré, Siya and Eben (Etzebeth), and the vibe is positive and energy levels up, so we are looking forward to the match," Stick commented.

Echoing what Pollard said about the work the Boks have done on learning about their opposition, Stick said that they are well prepared.

“We have done a lot of great work and analysis to understand their strengths and weaknesses, so we have a good idea of what is coming our way, and we have to be at our best to win the first game.

“Most players get to face the British & Irish Lions once in their career with the tour occurring every 12 years, so the guys are excited and so are we as coaches, and we are all looking forward to it.”

The first test of the three match series kicks off at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday at 6pm.