Recommended bets:
2pts: Over 47.5pts (10/11, general)
1pt: Lions to score 2 or more tries in each half (7/2, Paddy Power)
1pt: Lions -3 on the h’cap (Evns, general)
The Springboks haven’t got time to waste. The cancellation of their second Test against Georgia due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak means Wednesday’s game in Cape Town takes on even greater importance to the world champions with the three-Test series getting ever closer.
With 18 World Cup-winners in the opposition matchday 23, the Lions will get a pretty good idea of what they can expect when they meet the Springboks for real on 24 July.
Even so, you cannot igniore the fact that South Africa’s players are seriously undercooked compared to the Lions – in match and training time together – and will do well to keep apace with the tourists who, themselves, have picked a strong squad that won’t look too dissimilar to the Test 23, even with a headstart on the handicap.
If the Lions can meet the physical challenge and negate South Africa A’s strength by moving the point of attack and tiring out their big forwards, then we’re confident they can maintain their unbeaten record by more than three points.
Lions matches so far have all been high-scoring affairs and with the likes of Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Josh Adams and Lous Rees-Zammit on the field at the same time, there should be no shortage of tries or points in this game either.
Even if the starting XV fail to deliver, the Lions can call upon finishers as prolific as Gareth Davies and Sam Simmonds to pick off a tiring South Africa A team.
South Africa A: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Sbu Nkosi, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Steven Kitshoff, 2. Joseph Dweba, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Franco Mostert, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Jasper Wiese
Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Coenie Oosthuizen, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 20. Rynhardt Elstadt, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Jesse Kriel, 23. Damian Willemse, 24. Kwagga Smith, 25. Elton Jantjies
The British & Irish Lions: 15. Anthony Watson, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Conor Murray (capt.); 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Iain Henderson, 6. Josh Navidi, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Mako Vunipola, 18. Zander Fagerson, 19. Adam Beard, 20. Tadhg Beirne, 21. Sam Simmonds, 22. Gareth Davies, 23. Elliot Daly.
