View
comments
Warren Gatland described it as ‘rolling with the punches’ on Friday, after his besieged and resilient Lions emerged from their Covid scare and unveiled a formidable team to face the Sharks again.
The game is on. The tour is still on. What is clear after a week of chaos and turmoil is that the British and Irish crusaders won’t abandon their mission without an almighty fight. They have gone through a lot already and do not want it to have all been for nothing.
A welcome raft of negative test results meant the Lions were given the all-clear to face the same team from Natal who they thrashed 54-7 at Ellis Park just three days ago.
Saracens hooker Jamie George will captain the Lions against the Sharks on Saturday
Well, not quite the same team as Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has made 11 starting changes, but they will wear the same colours — this time at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, as stand-ins for the isolating Bulls.
They will be representing South Africa as well, with honour. They have stepped up in a time of trouble and the host nation will be grateful for their willingness to answer the call, even if their rotation makes them susceptible to another heavy beating.
There is a determination on both sides to keep on rolling towards the three-Test series due to start in a fortnight’s time with a can-do, flexible spirit.
The Lions may have to leave for Cape Town tomorrow without a coach, a player and other members of staff who are isolating, and the Springboks are still in a full lockdown after a Covid outbreak in their ranks.
Preparations are being disrupted, so contingencies are being thrashed out on the hoof. Sportsmail understands that one scenario being considered is for the Lions to play South Africa ‘A’
