No laughing matter: Peter de Villiers has once again hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons © Getty Images

That incident continues to take the shine off their achievement - South Africa showed great character and mental strength in both of the opening two Tests to see off a brave Lions team and exact revenge for their series defeat 12 years ago. But instead of glowing in that success they find themselves fighting fires due to their outspoken coach Peter de Villiers.

De Villiers sparked the controversy by insisting that the Burger incident did not warrant a yellow card and that such incidents were a part of sport - “It's sport, man. This is what it's all about,” he said. SA Rugby have since issued a statement apologising for any suggestion that, "acts of foul play are in any way condoned by South African rugby." But the same day that apology was issued, De Villiers was again defending the actions of his player and denying the incident took place.

It seems no one has the power to silence De Villiers or at least get him to tone down his opinions. There is an argument that he is bringing the game into disrepute and the suggestion that eye-gouging is part of the game is simply horrifying. That one statement could do irreparable damage to a sport that is trying to boost participation levels at grassroots level and also make a bid for Olympic re-inclusion.

Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll made a very telling point - "Kids or parents watching an interview like that, questioning whether they should have their kid play rugby or soccer, that's their decision made right there."

SA Rugby are going to be under increasing pressure from the International Rugby Board is they are unable to silence their coach.

I was sent some interesting facts on the back of Burger's latest indiscretion courtesy of my Scrum.com colleague Huw Richards.

Saturday's yellow card was Burger's first on the international stage for four years and 32 matches. He also holds the record for the most yellow cards in international rugby with his latest being his sixth - coming in his 50th match. His latest yellow card saw him edge past Italy's Marco Bortolami on that particular unwanted rugby record.

He collected his previous yellow card against Ireland on June 12, 2004, then on consecutive weekends against Wales and Ireland that November, against France on June 25, 2005 and Australia on July 23, 2005 - in other words in the space of 15 matches and little over a year.
Meanwhile, the British & Irish Lions were granted a couple of days off by team management to get over their defeat at Loftus. Some of them went on safari in Limpopo on Monday a trip that produced perhaps the most amusing press release of the tour so far.

The Lions' communications team (and their South African counterparts) have been incredibly helpful throughout the tour but their attempt to keep the media machine well fed during two days of media inactivity had us giggling.

The release in question offered the following hold-the-front-page sound bites:

"On Monday we went on an early game drive, jumped in the truck, grabbed a blanket and were driven round. We saw all sorts of animals, the hippos in the water, elephants, warthogs, zebras, a hell of lot of impala and deer and the backside of the elusive Lion!" - Tom Croft

"The safari was amazing, to actually see the elephants and the Lions up close and then right at the end to actually get in the cage with the Lion was one of the best moments of the tour." - Ugo Monye

"The safari was brilliant fun." - Ross Ford

Thankfully the void was filled by Brian O'Driscoll who decided to give De Villiers both barrels for his controversial comments.

	Some Lions fans reflect on their side's dramatic defeat at Loftus Versfeld © Getty Images

The Lions’ fans were again magnificent. The estimated 25,000 in the stadium more than held their own – and a special mention for the Zulu War uniform-clad group who greeted the Springboks off the team bus with a stirring version of Men of Harlech. Psychological warfare - great stuff.

The game itself was such a brutal encounter one journalist asked whether the modern game was too physical – an interesting question for the Lions to consider as they pick through the remains of their squad ahead of the final clash in Johannesburg.

There were some crunching tackles – none more so than that of Lions centre Brian O’Driscoll on Springboks replacement Danie Rossouw. The two staggered away like punch-drunk heavyweights with the towering Rossouw coming over all Bambi-like before hitting the deck. The warrior that O’Driscoll is, he refused to acknowledge the pain or the fact that he had been concussed and tried to carry on – but it was not long before he had to make way.

The Burger alleged gouging incident did not make for pretty viewing. It occurred under the noses of the media ranks and was greeted with widespread shock by journalists on both sides of the divide – partly because the Stormers flanker is not a dirty player. He walks a fine line like all good back row forwards but this was out of character. The citing commissioner has called him to explain his actions and it is likely he will be handed a heavy ban.

As I have said elsewhere on the site, it was a shame for such a thrilling game had to include such an unsavoury incident. With the first capacity crowd of the tour and a worldwide audience of millions it was perhaps even more of a shame to see the scrums reduced to uncontested with the game not even an hour old. When such a pivotal part of the game is reduced to a farce it must send alarm bells ringing at the International Rugby Board. Law changes allowing for extra front row replacements cannot be too quick in coming.

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers all but denied the alleged eye-gouging incident took place in his post-match press conference with his attitude drawing gasps and even laughter from some quarters. And he appeared to be getting himself into a corner before his skipper John Smit intervened and asked everyone to move on and leave it to the citing commissioner. Smit could perhaps see his coach hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons again.

The Lions management face a huge task to lift their players now as they bid to avoid the whitewash. It is all very well saying that the famous red jersey will be all the inspiration they will need but I fear it will need something extra.

	Soweto youngsters play football in the shadow of the Soccer City Stadium that is being built for next year's Fifa World Cup © Getty Images

That bizarre experience was the prelude to a fantastic day touring the sprawling township on the outskirts of Johannesburg - an experience I highly recommend. Our trip took in the Hector Pieterson and Apartheid Museums, the soon-to-be-completed Soccer City stadium being built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup and into the heart Orlando East - one of township's suburbs. It was an intense history lesson and you'll be able to read more about my visit soon.

The previous evening I was lucky enough to catch some of Confederations Cup semi-final clash between Brazil and South Africa at Ellis Park. I've never known an atmosphere like it and Bafana Bafana did their passionate supporters proud with a brave display. Daniel Alves' late strike broke the hearts of the majority of the 50,000 crowd but did not silence the vuvuzela horns. This Saturday's second Test between the Lions and the Springboks at a capacity Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria should provide an interesting contrast and I'll be sure to let you know all about it.

Following my social study at Ellis Park I can now offer the following guidelines for supporting Bafana Bafana:

Vuvuzela - You either love them or hate them but if you are serious about supporting Bafana Bafana you have to have one of these plastic horns.

Makarapa - Pimped-up hard hats. A homage to the country's mining roots and the more elaborate they are the better.

Over-sized sunglasses - The bigger the better and preferably yellow.

South African flag - Another must-have. Can also be painted onto your person.

Ability to dance - Not only when you score but on the spot continuously for a full two hours.

Bafana Bafana shirt - Worn back-to-front to show your player allegiance to the TV cameras.

Mobile phone - To ensure you waste time getting a blurry and muffled souvenir from the game rather than just soaking up the atmosphere.

Optional extra:

Nelson Mandela mask - Bring your own bit of 'Madiba magic' to boost your team.

	Veteran lock Simon Shaw has plenty to smile about after being promoted to the Lions' Test line-up © Getty Images

The sun will also be welcomed by the Lions when they eventually return to the Highveld but with that joy will be tempered by the prospect of playing the most important game of their lives at 1400m above sea-level.

Put simply, playing at altitude makes breathing harder as the thin air means there is less oxygen available.

The issue has troubled most touring teams in South Africa and the Lions are no different. Lions fly-half Ronan O'Gara memorably summed up the debilitating effects of playing at altitude following the opening clash with the Royal XV in Rustenburg.

"I felt like an imbecile in that first match," he said. "I certainly underestimated the effects of altitude. The mind was telling me one thing but the body wouldn't get me into the position to do it."

As with every other aspect of this tour, the Lions management and medical teams have put months of preparation into this part of the tour. And reports suggest that England football coach Fabio Capello has already sought their advice ahead of next year's Fifa World Cup.

The Lions' preparations were to include a training camp in Spain where conditions would be similar to those they would face here in South Africa but that was subsequently scrapped. Instead the players were encouraged to use altitude simulators - adding a sci-fi element to their pre-tour build-up at their leafy Surrey base.

"The Lions will discover the difference when their chests start burning," warned Springboks skipper John Smit earlier this week but perhaps he as unaware that the Lions have continued their altitude training whilst at sea-level thanks to the high-tech equipment available to the fitness team. One such training method requires players to wear a mask connected to a machine that limits oxygen intake.

The Lions have played their last five games at sea-level in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban and have chosen to prepare for the must-win second Test in Cape Town before flying up to Johannesburg on Friday - the day before the game.

Experts say that ideally you need eight days preparation at altitude to combat the effects but the Lions' schedule did not allow for that. The alternative is to travel up at the last possible moment - as the Lions are doing. The science behind this approach says that the somewhat crippling effects do not then have a chance to kick in.

Only time will tell if the Lions have got their preparation just right. But of course, the altitude issue is just one factor - albeit a major one.

The teams for the Pretoria showdown have both been announced with South Africa opting for only one change. Schalk Burger returns to the Springboks' line-up for the unlucky Heinrich Brussow who drops to the bench. However the Lions, who must win the game to keep their feint hopes of a series victory alive, have opted for a little more surgery with five changes including a first Test cap for veteran lock Simon Shaw.

South Africa have only lost three of their last ten clashes at Loftus Versfeld - all to New Zealand - and England were the last northern hemisphere side to upset the odds back in 1994.

The odds are really against the Lions and the first sell-out of the tour suggests that the home fans are confident of seeing their side complete the job.

	Singing in the rain? Lions fans brave the cold and wet conditions at Newlands © Getty Images

The rain, cold temperatures and gale-force winds has me longing for the sun and the balmy temperatures of Durban - and the blanket coverage of a sun-drenched SW19 on the various sports channels available here is not helping matters.

Denied the chance to return to Robben Island or climb Table Mountain due to the inconsiderate weather, I accepted an invite to South Africa College Schools (SACS) to catch some junior action ahead of the Newlands clash. SACS, the oldest school in South Africa, was playing host to Kings Hospital School from Dublin and both sides did their best in what were atrocious conditions. A 5-5 draw was a fair result by all accounts but I must admit I was driven under cover long before the final whistle.

It was heartening to see another bumper crowd at Newlands, bolstered by the thousands of Lions fans who remain committed to the tour. They braved the elements with the kind of enthusiasm we have come to expect from the Lions' loyal following. I guess when you have paid several thousand pounds for the chance to be here you are not going to let the small matter of the end of he world spoil your fun.

But the Lions' fans were unable to inspire great things from their team. Despite the demoralising draw at the hands of the second string Boks, the Lions did their best to remain positive after the game but a citing for lock Nathan Hines will not have helped the mood in the camp.

Luckily, I am escaping the gloom here in Cape Town ahead of the Lions who are due to remain here until Friday. The bad news for them is that the weather shows no signs of breaking up before the weekend which is sure to hamper their preparations for the second Test.

Meanwhile, the Springboks are basking under the sun in Jo'burg where conditions will not be a million miles away from those at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria - that will stage the pivotal Test clash on Saturday.

	This is no dour Scot - Lions team doctor James Robson © Getty Images

His medical updates, peppered with his favourite phrase 'in good fettle', are quite a draw due to the entertaining insight they offer into the foibles of the players - e.g. Lee Byrne likes his troublesome foot strapped a certain way - and his assessment of players under his care - "I'd like to stick a needle in his backside sometimes...He's a complex individual who is a bit like Austin Healey, is phenomenally talented and sometimes a bit irritating but I love him to bits." - The player in question? Byrne again.

When pressed on his admiration of Healey, Robson continued, "I think Austin was one of the most talented players I have ever worked with" - Cue sigh and rolling of the eyes from Healey's ex-Leicester and England team mate Rowntree and much laughter.

His latest epic briefing included the longest answer we have seen on tour. One of my colleagues from the BBC asked for some clarification on the rulings on concussions, as that recently suffered by James Hook. A full FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES of detailed explanation later he was only stopped by a round of applause!

"And if you want a more detailed answer see me after," he joked.

Robson's contribution was more than a fitting introduction to Rowntree's honest remarks about the Lions' showing against the Springboks the day before. He acknowledged that they had been second best and the players, in particular the forwards, would be 'very disappointed' when they reviewed the tapes themselves.

Before I left Durban I squeezed in a visit to Paul Flanagan in nearby Port Shepstone. The well-travelled former hooker, who had a spell at Ballymena, now runs a rugby academy. It was an all-too-brief trip but I got a great insight into some great work he is doing - stay tuned for more details.

While tour fatigue maybe setting in for some, it obviously isn't for others. I over-heard this conversation on my flight from Durban.

Lions Fan #1: "Do you find you're having to pace yourself drinking-wise?"
Lions Fan #2: "Well, if you call two days off the sauce in the last 25 then yes."

Reports in Monday's papers backed up the assumption that the Lions' travelling support have a mighty thirst.

Under the headline, "Lions fans drink pubs dry" Barbara Cole of the Cape Argus wrote:

"Emergency beer supplies had to be trucked in to pubs in Durban and Umhlanga to cope with the demand from Lions fans.

The report continued: "It was absolutely unbelievable. We were just not prepared for the onslaught," said a delighted Eleanor Gilles, manager of The George Tapas and Wine Bar. "The Lions drank us dry twice on Friday and I had to close the doors at midnight as we had run out after getting a re-supply at lunchtime."

Good old Brits abroad.

Another story I stumbled upon over the weekend centred on the subject of empty seats. There was a bumper crowd in at Kings Park for the opening Test but there were still plenty of unsold tickets.

It appears that such was SA Rugby's concern about the possible embarrassment that would accompany swathes of empty seats at the game that they were out amongst the local clubs on Friday night handing out free tickets. One source told me that at their game - all the matches were switched to Friday to enable fans to watch the Test - someone was handing out tickets by the handful.

The potential public relations disaster obviously triggered some desperate moves from officials but they are not the only ones under pressure. Fifa continues to press South African officials over the empty seats at Confederations Cup matches while the crime issue is looming as an even bigger problem with Brazil the latest to suffer at the hands of thieves.

I was greeted by rain on my return to Cape Town and the morning gave way to a grey, damp and miserable picture from my hotel. The forecast is for more of the same which my hinder any plans for an expansive game from either side on Tuesday night.

	The Red Army were unable to inspire their team to victory in Durban © Getty Images

The Lions’ ‘Red Army’ of supporters failed to lift their side to victory in their opening battle against South Africa but they may yet help the tourists in the war.

A reported 20,000 Lions fans descended on Kings Park in Durban, some way short of the 40,000 figure touted pre-credit crunch, but they still managed to turn vast swathes of the stadium red. Such a powerful sight will have energised the Lions and also the accountants at kit producers Adidas.

For some of these die-hard fans, this once in a lifetime experience had already turned sour long before the Springboks rode roughshod over the tourists’ hopes. The latest victims of crime horror story hit the local papers on the morning of the game.

Brothers Michael, 57, and Peter Harriott, 58, and Simon 57, and John Murphy, 52, flew into Johannesburg on Thursday night for the British and Irish Lions tour and were followed back to their guesthouse where they were robbed at gun-point.

“They ordered us out of the car and told us to lie on the floor and remove our wallets and watches,” Michael Harriott told the Saturday Star. Apparently the same night members of Egypt’s football team returned from their 1-0 victory over Italy at the Confederations Cup in Johannesburg to find that their hotel rooms had been ransacked.

And to complete a fear-inducing triumvirate from the morning news, reports detailed how car jackers stole a vehicle in Johannesburg before ordering its four passengers into the boot. They then drove it the 350 miles to Durban before dumping the car but the occupants were not found for several hours more by which stage one had died.

I know I have touched on it before bit it is worth returning to again. Fifa and Lions tour officials may have expressed concern about empty seats at venues but the real PR issue surrounds crime. Expect an even tougher crackdown ahead of next summer’s football World Cup.

Talking of empty seats, there were still vast areas of seating unsold at Kings Park. However, the 48,000 crowd that did dig deep gave the tour a much-needed shot in the arm and a blaze of colour, thanks largely to the thousands of South African flags given away on entry, helped generate the best atmosphere we’ve seen on this tour and goose bump-inducing tension to boot.

The party began several hours before for the massed ranks of Lions supporters. While I pondered breakfast, some keen fans were already knocking back beers but as you would expect with an international rugby crowd – that does not spell trouble. Such is the camaraderie within the rugby fan fraternity that passing strangers, and opposing fans, would stop each other in the street to shake hands, take photos and swap stories.

“We’ve got to win this one,” one told me, echoing the thoughts of many others.

Soon they were weaving their way towards the stadium in the bright sunshine perhaps lured by the intoxicating aroma of a thousand or so braais sparked up by the home fans. This massive cook-out is a traditional part of the match day experience and you can see why. Friendly faces who from experience I can tell you will gladly shout you a beer or some food if you want to chat through the game. Yet another fine example of the fantastic hospitality you can find in this country.

The Lions fans were in good voice ahead of the game, soaking up the array of music and dance served up as pre-match entertainment, while the occasional burst of bagpipes reminded us al that there is some Scottish interest on this tour!

“This is the moment we've been waiting for since 1997," boomed our MC as the sides entered the field of battle and the crowd noise hit a whole new level. And the Springboks did their best to maintain that intensity with an awesome example of controlled rugby. But back came the Lions and their fans responded by rallying around their side, urging them to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Fan-favourite Brian O’Driscoll required treatment at one point in the second half and when he finally rose to his feet the roar was deafening. The fans are all too aware of his importance to their side’s fortunes – and no other player would generate that kind of relief/reaction.

Sadly for the Lions’ faithful it was not to be and their side went down to a narrow loss in what was seen by many as a must-win game. But the fans I spoke to were not despondent – they had seen enough “fight” and “hunger” from their team to remain hopeful of a turnaround in fortunes in Pretoria next weekend.

As the sun set on what was a pulsating clash and fitting occasion, the Lions’ fans joined their South African counterparts around the braais outside the ground to pick through the game over one more beer.

A dream day but unfortunately the same cannot be said for the result. Loftus Versfeld promises to be an even more thrilling feast for the eyes and ears next week. I for one cannot wait.

	A Springbok fan adds a little colour to proceedings at Kings Park © Getty Images

Durban is awash with Lions fans who have descended in their thousands and turned the streets of the city red. They should once again provide a visual feast at the stadium but amazingly reports claim there are still tickets available for the game. There is not a cloud in the sky and the temperature is sure to play a part in proceedings later today.

Returning to the Kings Park press box reminds me I should have started that diet by now. The cosy confines of the media tribune mean we are packed in like sardines and literally sat on top of some of my radio colleagues. On my last visit here I discovered that you can listen to the game in a variety of languages including English, Afrikaan and Xhosa - with the constant stream of the latter, even when the ball is out of play, sounding more like horse racing commentary.

	Springboks lock Bakkies Botha looks for some divine intervention ahead of the Test showdown with the Lions © Getty Images

The much-hoped for escalation in hostilities has not materialised here in Durban and the verbal exchanges have been nothing but polite.

The British & Irish media have been hitting anyone they can get with the ‘Are the Springboks under-cooked?’ stick in the last few days without much joy – the nearest we got was a couple of luke-warm sound bites from South Africa assistant Gary Gold.

“It is interesting that this underdone tag is being thrown around about us when 12 months ago Wales came here and told us how tired they were after having a very long season back home,” he said. “I would much rather be in the position where we are now than if we had played three or four games and picked up three or four key injuries.”

Something in that last quote tells me he would have liked to seen his side tested before such a massive clash as this Saturday’s.

The presenting of the jerseys is long-held tradition and this series is no different. “Well-known South African businessman Dr Johann Rupert” did the honour for the Springboks this week. For those not in the know, billionaire Rupert is the owner of the Switzerland-based luxury goods company Richemont, which owns the Cartier, Mont Blanc and Dunhill names among others. He may be more familiar to you as the man behind a recently reported £10m investment in Premiership side SAracens.

“Rugby is a team sport and it is important that all 14 of you play as a team so that you can give ball to Bryan,” the reclusive Rupert told the players.

Lions head coach Ian McGeechan insisted there were no special jersey presentation plans for his side when questioned yesterday but that struck me as believable as some of the official crowd figures we have been fed out here. Do not be surprised if the great Willie John McBride makes an appearance as part of the ‘bonus extras’ on the tour DVD.

SA Rugby are also busy mobilising their fans to ensure they are not aesthetically blown away by a wash of red on Saturday. The Lions’ supporters memorably painted Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney red in 2001 and the Australian Rugby Union moved quickly to urge their fans to ‘go gold’ in response. On this occasion South African officials have gone for a pre-emptive strike.

“We want to turn the Absa Stadium Durban (Kings Park to traditionalists) into a sea of green,” declared acting SA Rugby Managing Director Andy Marinos. “Wear jerseys, scarves, caps, t-shirts and wave flags – so long as it’s green and show your support for the Boks.”

They may succeed in claiming some colour gains on Saturday but Durban the city has already turned red thanks to the thousands of fans descending on sun-drenched resort.

Fact of the day: “Whoever wins the first Test only needs to win 50% of the next two games, but whoever loses it needs to win 100% of the next two games.” – Gary Gold, South Africa assistant coach

	Lions centre Riki Flutey makes the most of the good surf in Durban © Getty Images

The war of words off the field is set to intensify dramatically ahead of the eagerly-awaited first Test between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions at Kings Park on Saturday. The hosts set out their stall earlier this week and as expected there were few surprises. Ruan Pienaar retains the No.10 shirt despite an injury-blighted season with coach Peter de Villiers confident he can rediscover his world-class form in the heat of a Test battle.

Elsewhere, Francois Steyn appears to have put his reported differences with Springboks management behind him as he fills the void at fullback. As many of you will recall the 22-year-old possesses a cannon for a boot and is adept at long-range drop goals - a scoring ploy we have seen surprisingly little of so far on tour. The in-form Bulls fly-half Morne Steyn is the only uncapped player in the squad and he must make do with a place on the bench.

The Lions selection meeting will take place today with the Class of 2009 set to find out if they have made the grade when it comes to the Test side. The rest of the world will then find out on Thursday who head coach Ian McGeechan believes has what it takes to topple the world champions. No matter who is selected, the smiles and open door policy we have seen from the Lions so far on tour, mixing with fans etc, is set to give way to a big-match focus.

One point of concern for the Lions is that they have failed to find their best form in their afternoon clashes. The traditionally stronger Saturday side laboured past the Royal XV, edged out the Cheetahs and Western Province before out muscling the Southern Kings but perhaps Ian McGeechan's rotation policy could be held partly responsible for the indifferent performances. Only under the lights against the woeful Golden Lions and the Sharks did the tourists manage to click through the gears.

On Saturday the Lions return to the scene of one of their more impressive showings in that victory over the Sharks where they are assured of a hotter reception than their last visit - although tickets remain available for the clash.

Amidst the celebration of the birth of the Southern Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium today came a timely reminder of the all-too recent political troubles that have blighted this country.

June 16 is known as Youth Day in memory of the 1976 protests sparked by the Soweto Uprising that took place 33 years ago. An estimated crowd of 15,000 youths, aged 10-20 years old, marched on the Orlando West Secondary School within the South Western Township of Johannesburg (Soweto) with the intention of presenting their grievances with the Transvaal Department of Education's policies that included the compulsory use of Afrikaans, together with English as the chosen teaching languages in all black schools.

The police soon descended on the scene and used teargas and dogs in their attempts to disperse the crowd and as a result a riot soon broke out. In the chaos gun shots were heard and a 12-year-old boy called Hector Pieterson was killed. The picture of Mbuyisa Makhubo carrying the fallen boy with his hysterical sister running alongside hit front pages around the world.

The rioting escalated, spreading like wildfire across the country over the following days and as a result the death toll quickly rose with historical records detailing a total of 575 fatalities, thought to be mainly teenagers, while another 4,000 were injured.

As a direct result of the tragic events, black schools were given the freedom to choose their main language and soon after further restrictions were lifted including those on movement in the cities. Global sanctions also intensified in the wake of the Soweto Uprising which would in turn play their part in South Africa shaking off the shackles of Apartheid.

One of the darkest days in South Africa's history set the country on a new path but will always remain part of its fabric. South africa.info describes June 16 as, "a day violently etched on the South African collective conscience....a day that changed the country's history."

Such is the significance of the occasion that special dispensation was required from the country's sports minister, the reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, for the game to go ahead on a day when no sport is normally played.

"The most remarkable aspect of this momentous occasion is that here we are, on June 16, 2009, hosting the British & Irish Lions in a country free of prejudice of any kind and with historical foes seated side by side," wrote Eastern Province Rugby Union President and anti-Apartheid campaigner Cheeky Watson in his programme notes.

How many of the thousands of Lions fans present in the stadium were aware of the significance of the day is probably limited but hopefully this may go some way to further the education of us all.

'At last!' was the cry from one of my South African colleagues when Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brussow was confirmed in the Springboks' side for Saturday's first Test with the British & Irish Lions in Durban.

It appears South Africa coach Peter de Villiers - or P Divvy as some call him - has finally woken up to what nearly every local has made a point to tell me since my travels began - that Brussow is the best No.6 (openside according to SA tradition) at his disposal - even when Springboks stalwart Schalk Burger is fit.

The 22-year-old is a rising star of South African rugby who made his debut for the Springboks on their end of year tour last year and will make his first start against the tourists at Kings Park. In this year's Super 14 he dominated his rivals including Richie McCaw - widely considered as the best openside in the world. That form was underlined with a stand-out performance against the Lions in Bloemfontein where he terrorised the tourists at the breakdown and that will not have been lost on De Villiers and co.

The modest Bloem native refused to talk up his international chances following that game, preferring to keep his head down and "work hard". Sources tell me he was written off as one-dimensional by De Villiers himself just a few weeks but perhaps that was a ploy to bring out the best in Brussow? Unlikely. There appears to have been a change of heart by the Springboks' management and Brussow will now form part of what on paper is an outstanding back row trio including Juan Smith and Pierre Spies. Burger's injury may turn out to be a fortunate twist of fate for both Brussow and De Villiers.

The announcement of the Springboks' side to take on the Lions has confirmed what we already knew - that they remain a very strong side and heavy favourites no matter who the tourists put on the park to face them.

At last there is a buzz around the tour - thanks largely due to the thousands of Lions fans (largely of Welsh extraction) who have joined us here in Port Elizabeth with the serious business of the Test series on the horizon.

The media pack has also been bolstered in recent days - a fact not lost on Lions tour manager Gerald Davies who inquired whether there was a suitable fine system in place for the late arrivals!

And this welcome shot in the arm for a tour that was seemingly flagging when it came to general interest is set to be underlined with the biggest crowd of the tour so far - and reportedly the biggest ever for a non-Test match involving the Lions - at the brand new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. A welcome total of 35,000 tickets had been sold as of last night for the 45,000 capacity venue.

(The sketchy local media claim the record for a non-Test clash is 38,000 - set when the Lions met the Waikato Chiefs but do not give a year. I assume this was in 1993 but I've been unable to verify this.)

This renewed interest may be largely due to the more favourable ticket pricing for this game (R85-R170/£6-£13) but could also be seen as a statement from the people of the Eastern Cape that they have a desire to see regular top-class rugby in the city - be that the Southern Kings in an expanded Super Rugby competition or regular visits by the Springboks.

Update - I have arrived at the impressive new stadium but it's still a building site in parts and probably lucky to get a safety certificate! Bright and blustery afternoon and the pitch looks a bit suspect - elet's hope it doesn't cut up like Wembley.

My tour has reached Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape - a day ahead of the Lions - where the tourists will play their final warm-up game against the Southern Kings on Tuesday afternoon.

The build-up to next weekend's first Test has so far lacked any real intensity and I don't think the Lions' brief stop in this sleepy city will change things. The match with the Kings is supposedly the last opportunity for players to stake a claim for a Test berth but the match against the untried and untested scratch side is unlikely to offer a great deal more food for thought for head coach Ian McGeechan and co.

PE as it is commonly known has so far lived up to its nickname of the 'Friendly City' - before I had even touched down one local, Geoff O'Connell - who had a touch of Ron Burgundy about him - and his wife had offered to show me around the city and even take me out on their boat.

I am once again blessed with views of beautiful golden beaches from my hotel window but unlike Durban the coastline is not dominated by 1970s high-rises. The place itself reminds me of similar places in America - thanks largely to the family-friendly 'Boardwalk' in the centre of the city. Also of note is the fact that the Lions' last hit-out before the Test series begins will be the first event staged at the brand new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium - the first new venue for next year's Fifa World Cup to be completed.

There is also no sign of the impending arrival of the Lions - I have not seen one poster or promotion since I arrived here which perhaps does not bode well for a healthy attendance. There is however, no possible doubt that football’s premier event is coming – despite the fact that is a year away.

My day began on the quiet streets of Cape Town where the only people traffic of note was found at the various churches we passed on the way to the airport. Just a few hours later I found myself within a different kind of congregation altogether at the Boardwalk Casino here in PE.

While some paid homage the banks of 'slots' by feeding them with endless money, many others were present to worship Bafana - South Africa's football team that kicked off the Confederations Cup with a dour clash against that other powerhouse Iraq.

Let's hope the Lions and Kings put on a more entertaining clash.

Fact of the Day: PE is a major car production centre and therefore a good place to buy a car by all accounts. However, one dealership I passed called 'Classic Cars' had a 1990 Ford Orion front and centre. Make of that what you will.

With the first clash with the Springboks less than a week away it will soon be the time for Lions head coach Ian McGeechan to name his side to tackle the world champions.

There is one more warm-up game against the unknown and untried Southern Kings on Tuesday and although McGeechan says he will not decide on his Test XV until that evening he must surely have the majority of those names inked onto the team sheet already.

I think the majority of the side decides itself with many players stepping up to the challenge and laying claim to a Test jersey with notable performances. A couple of positions remain debateable but either way this side has the potential to rock the Boks.

15. Lee Byrne
Outstanding all-round qualities see the Wales fullback edge out his Irish counterpart Rob Kearney for the No.15 shirt. Dangerous when joining the line and a cannon for a boot.

14. Tommy Bowe
The Irishman has kicked on from the Six Nations and can rightly claim to be one of the most dangerous wingers in the game.

13. Brian O’Driscoll
The Lions veteran has oozed class and has a point to prove. Some superb touches and quick feet make him a very real threat for the tourists in attack and he also regiments the defensive effort.

12. Jamie Roberts
The strong-running Welshman has broken the gain line at will on tour and appears to have struck a winning partnership with the more experienced O’Driscoll.

11. Ugo Monye
Electric at times, the English speedster also looks hungry for the ball and confident with it in hand.

10. Stephen Jones
A close call between the Wales fly-half and his Irish rival Ronan O’Gara. Both have been almost faultless with the boot with Jones getting my nod for his

9. Mike Phillips
Sure to relish the physical confrontation against the Springboks and the personal challenge with the world’s best No.9 Fourie du Preez. His strong passing game is key to unlocking the Lions talented back line.

8. Jamie Heaslip
The Irishman is another to have lifted their game to the next level during this tour after an excellent season for province and country. He has been ferocious at the breakdown and ball-hungry in the loose.

7. Martyn Williams
The Wales openside has returned to top form at the right time after some injury concerns early in the tour. An eye-catching display against Western Province put his strengths at the breakdown and in the loose in the Test match window and is set to edge out the reliable but maybe a little less dynamic David Wallace.

6. Tom Croft
Croft’s ascent from tour reject to Test starter is set to be confirmed this week. As thought his athleticism has been a valuable weapon in the Lions back row and in the lineout.

5. Paul O’Connell
The Munster talisman has done all he has been asked – earning hard yards when taking the ball up and catching plenty of lineout ball. Some have questioned his leadership ability but this side as a whole will not lack for that.

4. Alun Wyn Jones
Perhaps the most open of the spots in the Test XV. Wyn-Jones may not have the physical presence of rivals Nathan Hines or Simon Shaw but his athleticism will be required to disrupt the Springboks’ formidable lineout duo.

3. Euan Murray
The Scot’s scrummaging prowess sees him edge out the experience head of Phil Vickery for the starting No.3 berth.

2. Lee Mears
What the English hooker may lack for in physical frame he makes up for in work rate and the Lions will need a reliable thrower at the lineout.

1. Andrew Sheridan
The English powerhouse is another powerful scrummager that will relish taking on the Springboks’ front row and would probably give way to the industrious Gethin Jenkins in the second half.

When it comes to replacements, the Lions management have regularly opted for the 4-3 split which I think they will do again.

Replacements:
16. Matthew Rees
17. Gethin Jenkins
18. Simon Shaw
19. Joe Worsley
20. Harry Ellis
21. Ronan O’Gara
22. Luke Fitzgerald

Rees and Jenkins are easy choices while Shaw and Worsley get my nod to add some beef to the pack when required. Ellis has outshone Mike Blair while Ronan O’Gara is pressed hard for his place by the versatile James Hook. That flexibility sees Fitzgerald named in my side as the replacement back.

I've resisted the urge so far to wade into the crime problem here for fear of detracting from the overall positive experience on tour but there is quite clearly a problem in the country – the razor wire around residential properties and armed police patrolling the city streets will tell you all you need to know.

Luckily I have so far escaped (I hope not to tempt fate) but sadly you seem to hear stories every other day of muggings and even assaults on tourists. That does not make Jo’burg or Cape Town or wherever any different from any other major tourist destination you may claim.

But the horror stories are not limited to visitors – friends who live here have told me of knife attacks, muggings and even car jacking at gun point on their own driveways. Shocking stuff but they accept it as a way of life out here.

For those yet to arrive on tour it simply is a case of adhering to the guidelines that you will find in any guidebook. Be sensible and don’t push your luck.

If anything I have been a victim of superb hospitality more than anything else on my travels – be it the company and generosity of friends in Jo’burg, Bloem (Thanks again Stephan) or Cape Town (Ditto Rich) or the kindness of strangers.

The latest example was a visit to the excellent Villager Rugby Club here in the Cape Town suburbs. Thanks to one of my colleagues Danny Stephens, who calls Cape Town home and coaches the U20 side at the club, I took a welcome break from the pack following the Lions to take in some local rugby culture.

The club itself is, the second oldest in the country, has produced recent internationals Percy Montgomery, Joe van Niekerk and Stuart Abbott and is one of only two sides never to have been relegated from the top flight of club rugby - one step down from the Currie Cup competition.

Other names to have graced the club's colours are HH Castens who captained the Springboks in their first home international in 1891 and John Gainsford lined up for South Africa against the Lions on their tour of 1962 and who is now a proud chairman of the club - pacing the touchline during the 1st team's victory last night.

Wind and rain has hit Cape Town hard in the last day or so and should provide the Lions with a different kind of test at Newlands against Western Province. And they will be greeted by the biggest crowd of the tour so far if reports are to be believed (such reports have not been that reliable in recent weeks).

There has been a significant increase Lions supporters floating around the city in the last couple of days as the invasion of the red army gains momentum with the first Test just a week away. Of note was one rather professional banner being paraded around Newlands before kick off that declared - ‘Umaga can’t hurt us here’.

At this morning's press conference in Cape Town, one of my colleagues suggested to Ian McGeechan that every thing so far had been a little too friendly and asked whether he thought things would be 'cranked up' significantly this week.

It is true to a large extent. Apart from flanker Stephen Ferris and Cheetahs lock Nico Breedt wrestling in the opening minutes of their clash in Bloemfontein and few other very minor spats I can't remember anything remotely close to the all-out brawls that littered the 1974 tour here or the kind of mauling the Waratahs' Duncan McRae handed out to the Lions' Ronan O'Gara during the 2001 trip to Australia.

From my own experience, which is limited compared to some of the years put in by some of my colleagues, the first few matches of this tour appear to lack the kind of intensity that could spark such outbreaks of violence.

Instead we have teams embracing each other en masse following games, swapping shirts and posing for photographs. There has been a distinct lack of bite - especially from the Golden Lions at Ellis Park - and not even any notable dangerous tackles to suggest a game plan designed to upset the tourists.

There is not even a war of words to report. Scrum-half Mike Phillips suggested there was a lack of respect coming from the Springboks as we build towards the Test series but only when he was led that way by one of the journalists after the game.

Even today, with the first Test just over a week away the latest Lions skipper Phil Vickery opted to declare his respect and affection for Springboks old and new in the form of Os du Randt and John Smit.

"Like most young props at the time [1997], I was an ardent supporter of (former Springboks prop) Os du Randt. I gave him a big hug when I saw him the other day. I remember the 2007 World Cup final and watching the South Africans picking up their [winner's] medals. When Os du Randt collected his medal, as disappointed as I was, I actually felt quite proud for him.
"It couldn't have happened to a better guy, really.

"You have respect for people, and I have a huge amount of respect for the South Africans and the way they play, and I've been lucky enough to make a few friends along the way."

No danger of it kicking off in the front row then do you think? Or is this all mind games and the Lions will unleash all their pent-up venom in Durban?

Even the Springboks were laughing and joking at their squad announcement recently - although that may just be a case of over-confidence.

For the record, the Lions head coach said he expects a change in the 'environment' as we build towards the first Test with South Africa on June 20 due to the increasing pressures that will accompany that significant clash.

The British & Irish Lions tour reached its latest destination today with the squad arriving in Cape Town.

The first thing that struck me on my arrival was the size of my taxi driver's neck - I swear it was wider than the headrest I was sat behind. The second thing quite clearly evident was that Cape Town - like every other stop so far on this tour appears to be 'under construction'.

Airports, roads, hotels and stadiums are all being re-vamped, re-designed or built from scratch as part of the massive on-going investment ahead of the Fifa World Cup here in South Africa next year - it kicks off a year today.

I imagine in 12 months time the result will be quite impressive but right now it is far from it. There is no sense of occasion surrounding these early tour games, if anything it is as if they are getting in the way of the preparations for the big party in 2010. Let's hope that changes come the Test series.

The Lions cannot hope to command the same kind of attention as the football's showpiece event and in my travels it appears that this year's tour has failed to capture the imagination of the majority of South Africans and there seems to be more concern about a lack of interest in the Confederations Cup - the World Cup warm-up event that is running alongside the back end of the Lions tour.

There was more of an atmosphere at last night's game in Durban but still a half empty stadium. There are many reasons for the apparent lack of interest including inflated ticket prices and the withdrawal of Springboks from provincial teams and it would be wrong to suggest the appeal of the Lions is on the wane.

The real Test in popularity will come on June 20 back in Durban and as of last night there were still plenty of tickets available for the game. Maybe we need a good old fashioned war of words to stir things up?

I also have more Wayne Barnes news to relate - the much-maligned referee was a late boarder onto my flight to Cape Town and was greeted with some cheers and jeers from the Gullivers tour group who were also on the plane. Thankfully for him he was not sat in the middle of them.

What must it be like to be Wayne Barnes? I think I'll return to this one - the next time I bump into him.

He should have known better than to tempt fate. Just a day or so after Lions team doctor James Robson delivered an unprecedented positive bill of health on Sunday afternoon the Lions injury woes have come thick and fast.

At Monday's press conference to name the side to face the Sharks on Wednesday night the Lions almost delighted in the fact that only Martyn Williams (with a troubling shoulder injury) was unavailable for selection). They had never had it so good at this stage of a tour according to management.

But the picture had changed by the time we reached kick off at Kings Park. First flanker Stephen Ferris (twisted knee), then winger Leigh Halfpenny (thigh strain) and if reports are to be believed No.8 Andy Powell (broken hand) have fallen by the wayside.

The join the likes of Tomas O'Leary (fractured ankle), Tom Shanklin (shoulder), Alan Quinlan (suspension) and Jerry Flannery (elbow) who were all ruled out before they had even boarded the plane.

There remain question marks about Martyn Williams' fitness and that of Riki Flutey and Keith Earls so the last domino may not yet have fallen - in fact it is safe to say there will probably be at least one if not more casualties.

In terms of the significance of the most recent losses, Ferris is probably the biggest blow. His two appearances had earned him glowing reviews and he was surely closing in on at least a place in the Test 22 and battling with England's Tom Croft for the starting No.6 berth. An opportunity has now opened for Wales Ryan Jones to force his way into the reckoning as he did in 2005.

Halfpenny could have at best hoped to have been amongst the replacements going by his limited tour contribution. The decision not to call a replacement underlines that fact.

Confirmation of Powell's injury has not yet been confirmed by the Lions but if his injury was found to be less severe than thought he still has some way to go to make up ground on Ireland's Jamie Heaslip when it comes to laying claim to the No.8 jersey.

	It's hard to find a fault with this view © Scrum.com

As I woke on the fourth day of my stay in Durban I thought it about time I made use of the miles of golden beaches and the Indian Ocean on my doorstep. A not-to-taxing run along the beachfront was followed by a very brief dip in the Indian Ocean - remember it’s not summer here!

My efforts were apparently humorous for the few locals in the vicinity - whether that was my attire or my chalky white appearance or the fact that I was swimming at all. If I'd caught sight of the public information sign about sharks I may not have bothered at all.

You may like to know that there are just three types of shark that should concern you if you find yourself tempted to take a swim around here. The Zambezi, Tiger and of course the Great White shark. But thanks to the safety nets there have only been two serious attacks in the last 25 years. Even so, you have been warned.

Dodged Springboks prop Gurthro Steenkamp on my return to the hotel who was lumbering down the road in a Proteas cricket jumper - I dare say I would have bounced off the 6ft 1in and 18st giant. He and his team mates are staying in the hotel next door to mine as they prepare for the first Test here on June 20.

A blustery day in Durban has not eased as we head towards the Lions' latest encounter against the Sharks at Kings Park (ABSA Stadium to the commercially minded of you). It is sure to cause some problems for the fly-halves and remember we are not at altitude any longer either. If Ronan O'Gara wanted a stage to illustrate his Test credentials then this is it.

The historic Kings Park, capacity 55,000, sits alongside the building site that is the yet-to-be-completed King Senzangakhona Stadium - catchy title - that will house 80,000 during next year's Fifa World Cup. Its use after that remains unclear according to my South African sources.

The Sharks and Natal, who play at Kings Park, have reportedly signed to an extended lease with their stadium owners so they will not be making the switch any time soon and there is no other sporting side in the city who could lay claim to it.

Interestingly enough, SA Rugby also recently changed their constitution so that only member unions could bid to host Springboks Test matches. This move prevents cities that find themselves with great new stadia thanks to the Fifa World Cup investment, such as Durban, bidding to host a Test match and then staging it at the new stadium. The only way round this would be if the owners of the new stadium came to an agreement with the respective union. A smart move by SA Rugby to protect their own.

At the end of the day I imagine money will do the talking when such a scenario arises and revenue from an extra 30,000 seats could well be a deciding factor.

Back to the game, and much hilarity in the press box where space is very much a premium. Funny how people complain as they have to squeeze their way into the best (and free) seat in the house!

I am glad to report the blue skies and sunshine have returned to Durban and all of a sudden you can understand the attraction that this place has had for generations of South Africans.

A busy day kicked off with the latest Lions' team announcement at Northwood School in Durban North. McGeechan has opted for another strong line-up to face the Sharks but most interestingly he revealed that he may not field his preferred XV before the 1st Test. He wants to be fair to all the players and give them as many opportunities as possible to stake a claim but it is a brave call especially given the importance of that first clash here in Durban on June 20.

The surprise factor will keep the Springboks guessing to a certain extent but with time working against the tourists as it is when it comes to finding the best combinations surely such a move just increases the pressure?

Got some great soundbites from Jamie Heaslip - fast becoming my favourite player on tour - while Ronan O'Gara was both thoughtful and insightful.

A few of the media pack ventured off into the suburbs for some light refreshment in the evening and stumbled across Bath trio Michael Claassens, Pieter Dixon and Butch James in a restaurant but chose not to ruin their evening by inviting ourselves to join them.

Instead we found ourselves in the company of some self-proclaimed Lions 'super-fans' who had acquired an old Mercedes, painted it red and white and set off on a quest to follow the Lions. They proudly listed their media hits and the fact some of the players had obliged and signed the car in Bloem.

But I managed to stop them in full flow by alerting them to the fact that the referee Wayne Barnes had slipped into the bar (he was the whistleblower for the Lions' clash with the Cheetahs and will assist Jonathan Kaplan for the Sharks clash). 'Is it really him?' they asked and once I had assured them they descended on the Englishman whether he liked it or not.

We left them in what looked like a one-way exchange. I guess I should apologise to Wayne for setting him up but thought he could explain his interpretation of the breakdown following that Cheetahs game. Could have been worse - I could have sent a bunch of Kiwi fans in his direction!

Balmy Bloem gave way to a wet and cold Durban as the Lions tour reached its latest destination on the Kwazulu-Natal coast. Could the stormy skies be an indication of what awaits against the Sharks at Absa Stadium on Wednesday night?

I arrived under the cover of darkness at my hotel in the North Beach area of town so the glory of my surrounds remained a secret until this morning. Many comparisons have been drawn between the Lions' class of 2009 and their standard-setting 1974 predecessors and my latest stop appears to be a living shrine to those fabled days - from the decor and lift music down to the hair styles of the obliging staff. The trend continues throughout the beachfront area that appears to have seen better days.

Not surprisingly, this is in contrast to the Lions' salubrious surroundings a little further north.

Also of note - amongst the latest flurry of emails in my inbox this morning I received an invite from a private game reserve promising an 'unbeatable' package that covered 'slaughtering & cold room facilities' and a private guide - and for just R12,000 (approx £1,000) I could have the honour of killing an Eland bull - a different world. If time does allow a little time away from the pack I think I'll opt for the golf clubs.

An increasing number of the UK media pack are embracing Skype as a means for keeping in touch with family and friends. For those not so new to the web-based communication tool, the reaction of those who are can be quite amusing but full credit to them for taking that brave step!

Meanwhile others are still clinging to the past - using tape recorders for interviews and press conferences - you may know which ones they are having watched any live broadcasts - they are the ones getting out their seats, crawling to the top table and trying to surreptitiously turn the cassette over.

However, it means they have no trouble in identifying their device amongst a deluge of digital dictophones (is that a worthy collective noun?) that grace the top table when McGeechan and co offer their latest updates. Unfortunately many are the same and like the Daily Express' Steve Bale you may find yourself standing up and shouting - "Has anyone picked up the wrong dictaphone?" Thankfully he was soon re-united with said device.

Game day in Bloem and I kick it off with a visit to the Choet Visser Rugby Museum. The privately-owned collection is world-famous and was a big attraction this morning with coach loads of visitors making their way to No.3, Innes Avenue in one of the more well-to-do suburbs of the city.

It is an amazing collection of rugby memorabilia but Visser, a former South African Rugby Board official who passed away a couple of years ago, always insisted he was not a collector. "Every item is a personal keepsake," read a quote from the man himself, "friends have given them to me - only then does a rugby souvenir qualify for the museum."

And going by the varied collection, begun in the 1970s but with items dating back decades, his friendships were spread far and wide. He also has strong ties with the British & Irish Lions and in particular the legend that is Willie John McBride and the victorious class of 1974. He was also awarded the honour of Lions colours after acting as SA tour manager for the 1980 tourists.

A signed shirt from current Lions skipper Paul O'Connell was the latest addition to the collection, now run by Visser's family, while a visit had also been promised by head coach Ian McGeechan. Well worth a visit if you are ever in town.

From there it was on to the ground but not before the driver of the media bus had almost come to blows with the numerous security guards who had given him the run-around - we decided to disembark and leave them to it.

I am delighted to report that a healthier crowd flocked to the Vodacom Park but the 23,000 or so fans fell some way short of the 50,000 capacity. But there was an atmosphere where previously there has been none - thanks largely to the growing number of Lions fans who are joining the tour by the day.

Huge credit must go to the home side - and in particular messrs Jonker, Du Preez and Breedt for being true to their word and giving the Lions a real game. A narrow defeat was no consolation for those Cheetahs fans I came across - they wanted the win and came desperately close - about a foot according to Stephen Ferris - from stealing it with a drop goal.

I think a full crowd, energised by their side's brave exploits, could have got them over line. Be warned that big crowds are expected in Durban and Cape Town.

The Lions were quickly on their way to the airport after the game to begin their preparations for the clash with the Sharks where we may well see the Test team. Bloem has been great and it is a shame that my stay has been so short but tomorrow I am back on the Lions' trail.

Time to pack - if I had bothered to un-pack that is.

This morning I had the pleasure of the company of Leinster and Springboks prop CJ van der Linde. A gentle giant in the flesh although I wouldn't want to pack down against the 6ft 2in/19st prop.

The 28-year-old has already surpassed the 50-cap milestone and has a Rugby World Cup winners medal after memorably rising to the challenge of England's in-form Andrew Sheridan in the final of the sport's last global showpiece.

If he re-gains his fitness he is sure to feature in the Springboks' plans - even though he is currently contracted overseas with Irish province Leinster such is his status amongst those who specialise in the dark arts of the front row.

But fitness has been hard to come by for Van der Linde this year and he was on the sidelines for much of a glorious season for Leinster that ended with Heineken Cup glory. Going under the knife always has an element of risk and the odds are only 60-40 in favour of the ligament in his toe being re-attached successfully.

It seems strange that such an ailment could derail the career of such a giant of the game. Good luck CJ.

From a former Cheetahs star, as Van der Linde was, to today's leading lights.

While the Lions did their best to meet the demands of the mass media in their hotel, I encountered some of their opponents gong about their business quite anonymously in town. Wing/centre JW Jonker, prop Wiaan du Preez and lock Nico Breedt were happy to chat on Bloem's waterfront and promised they would offer the Lions a much sterner test than the Golden Lions had done in mid-week.

They were as disappointed with the Golden Lions' showing as I was and promised to re-store some pride. I asked them if they fancied their chances going into the clash to which Breedt replied - 'Do you fancy your chances?'

Cue nervous laughter on my part. JW, who is keen to secure a move to Europe, assured me they know how to handle the Lions and likened their approach to that of the Crusaders and the Sharks - both of who they accounted for in an otherwise disappointing Super 14 campaign.

I admired their confidence but they remain huge underdogs going into the clash.

While the star-studded Lions did their best to satisfy the demands of the hungry media pack earlier today, their next opponents were taking things a little easier ahead of what is a huge game for them in more ways than one.

One of the rising stars within the Cheetahs’ ranks is 22-year-old JW Jonker – a product of the famous Grey College here in Bloemfontein. Normally a centre, he will line up on the wing against the Lions and is determined to make the most of the occasion at Vodacom Park.

“I’m very excited and feel privileged to be able to play against the best and to see where I stand at the moment,” he said as we chatted in the Bloemfontein sunshine, “and I would love to play against Shane Williams.”

His wish is our command. The compact Jonker, blessed with cracking pace that makes him a valuable and versatile weapon, will go up against the former IRB Player of the Year this weekend.

The Golden Lions were criticised for their lack of fight after they capitulated to the tourists in their last clash but Jonker assured me that would not be the case with the Cheetahs.

“We don’t want to play that way,” he said before offering an indication of what to expect from his side. “I think the way that we are going to take them will be more physical, we’re not going to play a loose game and we’re not going to allow them momentum.

“The Lions play a lot around the fringes like the Sharks and the Crusaders who we beat in the Super 14 so I think there is a lot of confidence in this team. We think they play a similar game and it will be good to give them a good game and a win would be awesome.”

Jonker, who starred in the junior ranks, announced his arrival on the senior stage with a try in a practice match against the Springboks that catapulted him into the Currie Cup side as a 19-year-old and shared in their recent successes before stepping up to the Super 14.

For now the dream international call-up may not be within his reach but with the eyes of the rugby world focused on the Lions’ latest clash he is keen to show what he can do.

“I’ve played Super 14 against the best in the southern hemisphere and it would be awesome for me to play against the northern hemisphere’s best,” he added enthusiastically.

In the immediate future Jonker is keen to secure a move overseas to develop his game and broaden his horizons.

“For me, the goal is to move onto something else and go overseas for a new beginning and some new challenges. The national side at the moment is not on the radar. The guys in the Boks’ line-up now have been there for four or five years and they’re still only 25 or 26 years old.

“The first prize for me is to move overseas for maybe three years and get on the radar for the national side.”

As a result Jonker will be treating Saturday’s clash as a shop window and is hoping to tempt someone into buying.

	The Cheetahs Experience in Bloemfontein allows you to get up close and personal with some big cats © Getty Images

I hit the ground running in Johannesburg and that theme continued as I reached the second stop on tour – Bloemfontein. But on this occasion I came a second best to the fastest animal on the planet – a cheetah.

It was a very apt encounter in Bloem, the home of the Super 14 side that takes its name from the big cat and which will be the Lions’ next opponents.

My guides for this excursion are my new friends from Essentially, Stephan and Colleen, who go well beyond the role of dutiful hosts with their time and company.

My cultural introduction to Bloem, that is a lot smaller than Jo’burg but appears to have a lot more character than its big-city neighbour, also takes in lions, tigers and a Wild Boar – the latter being a typical Afrikaner pub. Eye-opening encounters all.

Another disappointing crowd at the Lions’ second tour match against the Golden Lions suggests that the elite tourists may no longer have the magnetic power they once had.

An official figure of 12,000 was reported for the opening clash against the Royal XV although if you had been there you would have wondered where half of them were hiding in the 42,000 capacity Royal Bakofeng Stadium. Many more tickets were sold by accounts but the Bulls’ march to the Super 14 Final – that took place at Loftus Versfeld the same afternoon – meant many opted for cold beer and a braai in front of the big game at home.

There was no such distraction on Wednesday night when the Golden Lions played host to their namesake but sadly, once again there was row upon row of empty seats. A crowd of just 22,218 were present in the 60,000 capacity stadium. An evening kick-off in one of the less desirable areas of town and a lack of parking were two of the reasons doing the rounds as officials tried their best to avoid the idea that the Lions are not the draw they once were.

There will be more of the same this weekend when the Lions take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The 48,000 capacity Vodacom Park will be half full at best with tickets being given away by the handful in the lead up to the game.

And further trouble lies ahead with a Sharks side stripped of its 10 internationals will struggle to lure the masses to Kings Park in Durban next Wednesday.

The decision by South Africa coach Peter de Villiers to deny his Springboks the chance to lock horns with the Lions in the build-up games has no doubt played its part in this apparent lack of interest amongst fans.

In addition, there are the ticket prices that locals have told me are a “joke”. South Africa has not escaped the global downturn and fans are refusing to dig deep to buy into what is constantly hailed as a “once in a lifetime experience”. Some season ticket holders expressed their dissatisfaction to me at the fact they would have to fork out again for the visit of the Lions.

For example, a normal ticket to watch the Cheetahs play a Super 14 clash would set you back in the region of a fiver while tickets for the Lions clash will cost you about £25. Not big numbers for those travelling from the UK maybe but an insult to those who support the teams week in and week out.

The Test matches are sold out we are told but there are another three games after this weekend’s clash to exacerbate the problem. And one of those matches will be against the newly-formed Southern Kings who are starting from scratch in terms of attracting support.

The SA Rugby marketing campaign has stretched far and wide but the fans are not buying into it. All these factors have contributed in one way or another to this very visible problem that will need to be addressed in Australia in four years time.

This year's Lions tour was all about a return to the tradtional values of the elite tourists as opposed to the bloated trip to New Zealand four years ago. And with that promise appears to be a very open-door policy when it comes to the players and management.

Following the Lions' mauling of the Golden Lions at Ellis Park, players, journalists and a a few fans mingled and drank in the team's hotel bar. The players were relaxed, there were no signs of cliques and Joe Worsley and Euan Murray even engaged in a bit of piano duelling while Paul O'Connell added some comedy with a bandage covering his corneal abrasion.

I am not sure whether such a scenario would play out in any other sport - for example I doubt very much it would be the case should England qualify for next year's Fifa World Cup.

It is just one of the things that makes the Lions special - although I am not so sure this will be the case when the Test series rolls around - I'll be sure to let you know.

	Scotland's Nathan Hines meets some of the pupils of St David's School in Johannesburg © Getty Images

SA Rugby took over the Montecasino venue (described aptly in my guidebook as, "mutant mock-Italian palazzo") for one of their popular 'Boktown' events where the squad was revealed in front of a few hundred fans. There were no real surprises with the Bulls' in-form fly-half Morne Steyn the only new face. As widely predicted he was rewarded for an outstanding Super 14 campaign and is now in line to make his international debut in the first Test against the Lions on June 20.

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers and his players appeared very bullish in front of the TV cameras. Maybe the Lions' unconvincing display in their tour opener had them rubbing their hands with glee? It is more likely that the Bulls' clinical destruction of the Chiefs in the Super 14 final has them oozing confidence.

De Villiers' latest squad features 10 players from the Bulls including the likes of Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Bryan Habana and Fourie du Preez while another seven feature in the Emerging Springboks squad and all are likely to give the Lions management some sleepless nights over the coming weeks.

But all is not lost according to a South African colleague of mine who insists a whole new, and sometimes hampering, dynamic comes into play when the country's leading players come together under the Springboks banner. Time will tell.

We were also afforded another bizarre sound bite from De Villiers who has a reputation for some weird and downright crazy comments. The latest - 'Ruan [Pienaar] is rugby's version of Tiger Woods' - Go figure.

Earlier in the day in the much less gaudy surroundings of St David’s School, the latest Lions team was announced ahead of their clash with the Golden Lions. A strong side was announced with Brian O'Driscoll handed the captaincy in the absence of Paul O'Connell who is to be rested. This side could form the bulk of the Test side barring a distinct lack of form and injury.

Joining O'Driscoll in the Lions line-up on Wednesday night, and most likely again in Durban on June 20, are Tommy Bowe, Jamie Roberts, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Tom Croft, Phil Vickery, Gethin Jenkins.

To the delight of the pupils, the Lions were happy to chat and pose for photos in between meeting the demands of the gathered media. The tone of this tour, set by tour manager Gerald Davies and endorsed by all players and staff, continues to win over their hosts.

A busy day on tour ended with the Lions management rolling out the welcome mat to the journalists for a charity quiz. Sadly my team, including the Irish Times' John O'Sullivan, the Irish Independent's Hugh Farrelly and Lions Communications Manager Christine Connolly and logistics officer Guy RIchardson failed to trouble the leaders.

But at least we avoided the ignominy of coming last in a largely rugby-related quiz - that fate fell on Gerald Davies and the gang from Sky Sports who as a forfeit had to take to the stage and perform the instantly forgettable Power of Four anthem that was one of the big mistakes of the 2005 tour. A big thanks to our hosts for the evening that generated a tidy windfall for charity.

The British & Irish Lions' tour to South Africa in 1997 provided many memorable moments including this magical try from winger John Bentley.

Fresh from a demoralising 30-25 defeat at the hands of Northern Transvaal in Pretoria the Lions were in desperate need of a lift against the Gauteng Lions at Ellis Park with the first Test against South Africa just ten days away. Bentos' try injected some much-needed belief into the Lions who went on to win the game 20-14 before going on to clinch a 2-1 series victory over the Springboks.

History has a habit of repeating itself, and although the Lions did not lose their opening clash of the 2009 tour against the Royal XV they find themselves preparing for the corresponding fixture, against the Golden Lions, in need of a timely boost.

“I know we won on Saturday but it reminds me of my own experience of losing against Northern Transvaal and a new team going out on the Wednesday night," recalled Lions assistant coach Rob Howley, who was a member of the 1997 squad. “It lifted the tour to another level. I’m sure you all remember John Bentley’s try and we’re looking for that X-factor this Wednesday to get over some of the despondency."

Tommy Bowe and Ugo Monye find themselves on the wings for Wednesday's clash - what price a similar try from one of them?