The Southern Kings will go out to "celebrate the occasion", while the British and Irish Lions field a team of mainly 'dirt trackers' hoping to make one last statement before the Test team is announced later in the week.

It will make for an intriguing battle of contrasting styles at the purpose-build Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

The burning questions are: 'Is the first upset of the tour on the cards? Can the Kings end the Lions' victory run?'

Those will be answered at around about 17.00 (SA time) on Tuesday.

The Kings are under no illusion as to the enormity of the task facing them, but feel that with the right attitude they can not only meet the challenge front on - but maybe even cause an upset.

As Kings captain Derick Küun said, the B&I Lions will come out "all guns blazing".

As obvious and cliched as that statement may sound, there is some sound reasoning why players in Tuesday's outing may want to exert some extra energy.

"Obviously some of the guys who will play against us won't be in the running for Test places, so they will have a point to prove," Küun told rugby365 in explaining why he felt there will be some extra physical efforts forthcoming from their opponents.

He also rightly pointed out that the Kings will be confronted by an international team of great standing, a team of players that pride themselves on their ability to physically dominate the opposition.

"They do have a great backline, but they will want to lay a solid foundation up front," Küun added.

He was supported by his coach, Alan Solomons, who described this as "the most physical pack" the Lions could have picked.

Solomons, flown in from International Rugby Board duty to oversee the launch of the Southern Kings franchise and do a bit of hands-on coaching for the team's inaugural match, felt that his players will need to "play out of their skins" against the unbeaten tourists.

"What is important is that these players rise to meet the tremendous challenge that awaits them," Solomons told this website, when asked about the physical nature of the opposition.

"They've got their biggest lock playing blindside flank, a blindside flank playing at openside and their biggest ball-carrying No.8. Then they've got [Andrew] Sheridan, [Donncha] O'Callaghan and [Simon] Shaw, who is probably their most physical lock," said Solomons - a former Springbok assistant coach.

He spoke of the need for the Kings to "rise to meet this challenge" and show "tremendous commitment and courage" if they want to get the crowd in behind them.

However, the tourists are clearly in no mood to relinquish their unbeaten run on this tour, as they look to match the legends of 1974 - who went through that tour unbeaten.

The Lions have alreqady notched up five wins, with the first of three Tests against the Springboks scheduled to take place in Durban this coming Saturday.

"The Lions are looking forward to the match and maintaining the unbeaten tour record," B&I Lions tour manager Gerald Davies told a media gathering on Monday.

Head coach Ian McGeechan maintains that all the players turning out on Tuesday could still come into contention for Saturday's Test team.

There may those who disagree with him, but the wily McGeechan will not be moved from his stated 'open door' policy.

"This is Test week and there is a noticeable change in attitude within the touring party," the coach said.

"We are now heading towards the business end of the tour and the reason why we have come to South Africa.

"As you would expect, the immediate focus is the next match against the Southern Kings on Tuesday before attention turns to selection for the first Test for which all players will be considered.

"The Southern Kings is not a regular team, but we understand there are some very talented players in the squad for the match. Experience tells me that you can never underestimate any South African team and, like the other teams we have faced on the tour so far, we will not take them lightly."

While most pundits will feel hat the Lions have too much class for a composite outfit - in some reports referred to as a Barbarians selection - the Kings' captain, Küun has made it clear that his team is not a rag-tag bunch of 'renegade rugby mercenaries'.

They are determined to leave their mark on the game and ensure the Eastern Cape franchise is launched in fine style.

"We have a number of players in key positions with a lot of experience," Küun told us, adding: "We have players like Jaco van der Westhuyzen at flyhalf and De Wet Barry at inside centre, those are key positions.

"Even Tiger [Mangweni] at fullback.

"They are settled players and know what is expected of them - that will help us a lot.

"But we also have some youngsters looking to make their mark, like Francois Hougaard, of whom a lot is expected. This would be a great stepping stone for him," the captain said of his team.

He said the fact that the core of the team comes from the victorious Bulls Super 14 franchise will help - with the entire front row from the Bulls and Marco Wentzel at lock a former Bull.

"He knows us, we played with him for a long time and Ross [Skeate, Wentzel's second row partner] comes from Western Province. We also know him and have played against him often - we know what he is capable of.

"As a pack we know each other well and we have worked on a few things in the last few days and it should come together nicely on Tuesday," Küun added as a parting shot.

Players to watch:

For the Southern Kings: There is no doubt that the key for the local outfit is the performance of the tight five - Ross Skeate, Marco Wentzel, Ruan Vermeulen, Derick Küun and Jaco Engels. If they can counter the physical threat of a bruising Lions pack, the Kings may well have a good shot at an upset.

For the B&I Lions: There are so many players playing in positions they have not previously appeared in on tour - Riki Flutey at outside centre, Nathan Hines as blindside flank and Joe Worsley as openside flank. It could be some last minute experimentation by wily coach Ian McGeechan, but experiments of this nature have the potential to backfire.

Head to head: If it is excitement you are looking for, look no further that the battle on the wing - England Sevens star Mat Turner in the colours of the Kings up against Welsh star Shane Williams. These are two players of blistering pace and immense talent. The boots of flyhalves Jaco van der Westhuyzen (Kings) and James Hook (Lions) could be decisive in a game that may well be a close call for the tourists.

Previous encounters:
These two teams have never met before

iafrica.com Prediction: The physical nature of the Lions pack and the class they have in the backline ensures that they will start as favourites. But starting as favourites don't always guarantees you a win and we feel the focus in the Lions camp may well have shifted ahead to Saturday's opening Test against the Springboks. That will give the Kings a huge opportunity for an upset, which they are certain to grab - the Kings to upset the tourists by 10 points or less.

Teams:

Southern Kings: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Mat Turner, 10 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Darron Nell, 7 Solly Tyibilika, 6 Mpho Mbiyozo, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Marco Wentzel, 3 Ruan Vermeulen, 2 Derick Küun (captain), 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Delarey du Preez, 17 Deon Greyling, 18 Lungelo Payi, 19 Dries van Schalkwyk, 20 Josh Fowles, 21 Bevin Fortuin, 22 Mzwandile Stick.

British & Irish Lions: 15 Keith Earls, 14 Shane Williams, 13 Riki Flutey, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Joe Worsley, 6 Nathan Hines, 5 Donncha O'Callaghan (captain), 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Adam Jones, 18 Tom Croft, 19 David Wallace, 20 Harry Ellis, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Ugo Monye

Date: Tuesday, June 16
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Cloudy and a 30 percent chance of precipitation. Low of 13°C, high of 22°C. Wind 40 to 50km/h SW
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

365

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