Questions may have been raised about the lack of 'match practice' for the Springboks, ahead of the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions, but coach Peter de Villiers may be spot on with his planning.

The B&I Lions, unbeaten through the first five games on their South African safari, tackle the Boks in Durban on Saturday - before the series moves to the Highveld where the two teams will go head-to-head in Pretoria and Johannesburg on successive Saturday.

And the build-up to one of the most anticipated series in South Africa in decades, have been marked by the debate about the two teams' vastly differing build-ups.

While the Lions have enjoyed working on their game plan and combinations in a series of matches against composite and provincial outfits, the Boks have been quietly working on the training ground ... mostly away from prying eyes.

Many pundits have suggested that the Boks may be 'undercooked' in the opening international, while the Lions will be in tip-top shape.

However, Emerging Springbok hooker Tiaan Liebenberg, feels the Bok approach may not be as far off the mark as most suggest.

Liebenberg is certainly well-placed to express an opinion.

Not only did he play for a Western Province team that pushed the Lions all the way this past weekend - a game the tourists edged 26-23 with a 76th-minute penalty - but Liebenberg was also in opposition when the Emerging Boks joined John Smit's Springboks selection in a two-day training camp last week.

He readily admits that the Lions are fast developing into a well-drilled unit that will be a stern test for the Boks.

"The way they do their pick-'n-drive, sucking the guys in, keeping the leg drive and getting the go forward makes them dangerous," he said, when asked about the strengths of the tourists.

"And their defence is very good," he said, adding: "That is where you win matches ... especially in Test rugby is with good defence."

However, when it comes to the debate about the Lions' pre-Test build-up through a series of matches and the Boks' lack of match practice Liebenberg has a very different view to that held in public opinion.

"I have to back [Bok captain] John Smit there, [most of] the guys have been together for six years and I don't think that will make a huge difference whether they played or not," Liebenberg said - pointing out that the Boks know each other so well they have no problems gelling as a unit.

He also felt it would have served no purpose for them to play for their provincial units, because that would not help their cohesion either.

"They would have played for their unions and not as a unit together," he said, adding: "I think they are going at it the right way."

He said the Boks are hard at work at their base in Durban, venue for the first Test - on Saturday, June 20.

He said the two days the Emerging Boks spent with the team gave them a good insight into where John Smit's men are at.

"It is going well and they will be a huge force and it is going to be a cracker on Saturday.

"The Boks will be ready and the Lions will be ready as well.

"They [the Boks] are definitely going to do well and they are a quality side and I think John [Smit] and the boys will definitely be ready for them."

365

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