The British and Irish Lions are focused on leveling the series against the Springboks when they clash in the second Test at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, according to defence coach Shaun Edwards.

The South Africans won the first Test 26-21 in Durban, but the Lions showed strongly in the second-half, scoring two converted tries in the final quarter after a raft of replacements unsettled the home side.

Edwards on Wednesday likened Loftus as "the hardest place to play rugby in the whole world" because of the altitude and its cauldron-like atmosphere.

Having spent nine days at altitude, the Lions squad have been at sea level for more than a week, a decision Edwards defended.

"I'm in no doubt that the players will be in better shape going back to altitude than they were when they first arrived," the former Wigan and Great Britain rugby league star said.

Players have been wearing "altitude masks" when training on rowing machines and static bikes, simulating breathing conditions at 7,500 ft, he said.

"You can see the pain on the players' faces."

A largely second-string Lions team drew 13-13 with the Emerging Springboks on Tuesday thanks to a converted try on the full-time hooter, in blustery, wet conditions Edwards described as "horrific".

"Hopefully we can play what we feel is our game [when the Lions play in Pretoria], which is a multi-phase, attacking style of rugby, as was proved last Saturday. I'm sure the Springboks would say the same thing," he said.

"I'm sure South Africa will have been working on their front-line defence since the first Test. They won't have been happy to have conceded so many line breaks against the Lions.

"For us, conceding one try a game is not a bad record at all," Edwards said, adding that he would be "pretty gutted" if the Boks wrapped up a series win on Saturday.

"We are as determined as possible that that last week in Johannesburg is a week of great excitement and great tension building up to what's hopefully the deciding Test.

"We have a chance against South Africa on Saturday to make it one-all and we have to take it."

With the team for the Test to be announced on Thursday, Edwards admitted that wingers Shane Williams and Luke Fitzgerald had put pressure for inclusion in the match-day 22-strong squad after good displays against the Emerging Boks.

"I'm sure Luke's name will be discussed at the selection meeting," Edwards said. "He had a positive impact on the game.

"And I've been very impressed with Shane," he said of the IRB's world player of the year in 2008.

"He's been taking a little bit of criticism over his form in the last season, basically because his form the year before was not good but unbelievable and to expect any player to keep that form up is probably unrealistic.

"On this tour, he has not been spectacular but rock solid.

There's always a time when Shane's going to make a break and score a try but what's been impressive is that his error rate has been very, very low.

"He's in contention."

AFP

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