The Royal XV, or the Bafokeng Royal XV to give them their full name, will be the Lions' first opposition on their forthcoming tour of South Africa. The two sides will go head-to-head at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium (recently upgraded to seat more than 44,000 spectators) in Phokeng near Rustenburg next Saturday but who exactly are they?

Under the auspices of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, the Royal XV has been assembled from the Griquas, the Griffons, the Pumas, the Falcons and the Leopards rugby unions.

Wilhelm Koch, captain of the Leopards, will lead the side while newly crowned Vodacom Cup champions, Griquas, and the Leopards, who were last year promoted to the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, have contributed 23 of the 27 players selected for match.

Ahead of the game I caught up with an old friend and former Scrum.com contributor Ben Pegna who spent three years playing in South Africa to get the low-down on some of his former team mates.

"If you play into these guys' hands and make a big thing of the breakdown then they will love it and smash you all day," warned Pegna who played for the Villagers side in Cape Town before moving on to the Pukke Rugby Institute and the Leopards outside Johannesburg. "They are going to be waiting to line somebody up. If the Lions are able to play an off-loading game and get around them then that will benefit them."

But how would the average British or Irish fan gauge the standard these guys play week in, week out?

"If these guys came over to play in the UK, some of them would struggle to get contracts in the Premiership," Pegna explained. "That’s the sort of level you are looking at. They are all potentially Premiership players but are not used to playing week in week out or at the sort of pace the internationals within the Lions are used to.

"About 10 or so have Super 14 experience but even then they are not massively experienced, but what they will be is well-organised, ridiculously abrasive up front and keen to smash somebody."

So, who should we, and the Lions, be wary of? Pegna gives us a few markers.

Bees Roux (prop) - "A hard, physical presence who is at the Cheetahs now but his province is Griquas. And earlier this season he played for Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 for a couple of months."

Colin Lloyd (Wing) – "Previously at the Lions, a good player, he’s been around, quick and good counter-attacker. But not a big guy and not one of the big threats."

Egon Seconds (Wing) - "Sevens specialist, has played Springboks 7s but also 50 or 60 times for Western Province and the Stormers. Nice guy and good player."

Deon van Rensburg – "Broke through for Lions this year, playing in the centre in the Super 14. He came in for the injured Jacque Fourie and played well – a breakthrough year, a good step and one of the players to watch."

Riaan Viljoen (fly-half) - "Has got a massive boot on him – scored all 28 points in the Griquas' Vodacom Cup Final victory over the Blue Bulls. Put one over from inside his own half – a real threat. If the Lions give away penalties he will kick the goals."

Naas Olivier - (fly-half/fullback) - "Another good player. Had a spell in France but not too successful and returned to Western Province. Wanted regular rugby and is now back at Griquas. Recently drafted in for the Cheetahs in the Super 14. Has previous Super 14 experience with the Stormers too. Likes running but is a really good kicker. Scored 42 points in a Vodacom Cup game this year."

Jonathan Mokoena (flanker) - "Jono is another guy to watch out for. He was the Springboks 7s captain, comfortable anywhere in the back row, but likes carrying the ball. A good No.8. runs good lines. Captaining the Griquas at the moment and was at the Cheetahs for a couple of years. If they get some ball he could be dangerous."

Wilhelm Koch (flanker) - "Has played for the Lions and is now captain of the Leopards. Has done well and is a good, solid loose forward."

How are they likely to shape up as a team?

"They are good Vodacom Cup players and Currie Cup players in-the-making but a lot are quite young and making a name for themselves. They are solid guys, perhaps a little one-dimensional and lacking a spark. The guys to look out for are Jonathan Mokoena, Wilhelm Koch, Naas Olivier and Riaan Viljoen at 10 or 15 and up front, Bees Roux. That is the core of what they have got."

The team will be coached by Chaka Willemse who is relishing his chance against the Lions having cruelly missed his chance to square up to the elite tourists in 1997. A broken hand denied him an appearance against the Lions for the Pumas - a game won 64-14 by the Lions. One of his assistants will be Griquas coach Dawie Theron - former prop who had a spell with Sale Sharks between 1998 and 2000 and will so be able to offer some insight.

So a winning start for the Lions?

"It's a very good first game for the Lions, tough, physical but I would expect the Lions to win comfortably," concluded Pegna.