Wallace gets the nod as Lions flanker for test

By Mitch Phillips

DURBAN (Reuters) - South Africa have waited 12 years for another crack at the British and Irish Lions and the opening 40 minutes of Saturday's first test should show whether they are ready for revenge or ripe for another upset.

In 1997 the then-world champions were stunned 2-1 by Ian McGeechan's long-shot tourists and now, with the World Cup back in the trophy cabinet, they have wrapped their players in cotton wool in a bid to ensure there is no repeat.

Traditionally the Lions are considered to have their best chance in the first test and even more so on this tour with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers' decision not only to do without any warm-up tests but also to keep his players out of their regional teams when they played the tourists.

The Lions go into the game on the back of six straight wins and with the test team virtually picking itself after some excellent individual displays and some nicely developing combinations.

"When the test team is together something else begins to take shape," said captain Paul O'Connell.

"We have fabulous players in every position, pace in the backs and back row and very fit front five. We know what we want to do and now it's a question of going out and doing it."

The Lions also have an assured goalkicker in flyhalf Stephen Jones and a top-drawer backup in replacement Ronan O'Gara.

The 1997 Lions secured an unbeatable 2-0 series lead on the same King's Park ground on the back of Neil Jenkins' goalkicking and some lamentable misses by the Springboks and history might come back to haunt the hosts with flyhalf Ruan Pienaar short of game time and experimental fullback Francois Steyn an explosive but erratic back-up.