That’s if the demand for tickets for both games is anything to go by. But once Saturday’s Super 14 decider is over, then the Lions will have the rugby scene in South Africa all to themselves.
Since the squad’s arrival in Johannesburg this week, head coach Ian McGeechan has made some significant changes from the most recent Lion tours.
McGeechan is keen to develop the bond between the players during the 10-game tour and has ended the single-room policy adopted by Sir Clive Woodward in New Zealand four years ago.
So Munster’s five Lions can expect to be sharing rooms with squad members from the other Home Nations during the course of the tour.
The Lions were based in Auckland for most of the 2005 tour, keeping travel to a minimum, but the 2009 Lions will travel from west to east and north to south.
“I can understand Clive’s thinking, but sharing rooms breaks down barriers and you like to see as much of a country as you can when on tour,” Wales out-half Stephen Jones, who was in New Zealand four years ago, explained.
“One of the significant things during our training week in Bagshot before we left for South Africa was that when you went down to breakfast in the morning or went into the dining room in the evening, players were mixing freely.
“There was no huddle of Welsh players on one table, Irish on another and English on a third. A beauty of a Lions tour is getting to know players from other countries and sharing rooms is a sure way of making that happen.
“I was with Ireland’s Tommy Bowe last week and he made me laugh a lot. We are also a more experienced squad than we were four years ago.
In a column this week, Wales and Lions flanker Martyn Williams admitted the 2005 trip to New Zealand had been a ‘bit of a disaster’.
“I’ve been on two Lions tours and haven’t managed to win one yet. The 2001 series against Australia was decided by fine margins, but last time was a bit of a disaster if I’m honest,” Martyn Wiliams said.
“New Zealand were awesome, probably head and shoulders above any other team in world rugby at the time, but we came away feeling we hadn’t done either ourselves or the Lions justice.. .
“If I’m honest, my main memories of 2005 are of rugby pitches and hotel rooms. Sometimes it’s good for the players to be able to unwind over a few beers, which we didn’t have much opportunity to do.
“I’m a firm believer that the better you know someone, the better you play together.
“It’s about getting the balance right, which is where our head coach Ian McGeechan is so good.
“No-one understands the Lions better, and if last week at Pennyhill Park was anything to go by, Geech has got the balance spot on. It was an awesome week and by Wednesday everyone was really comfortable in each other’s company. My Cardiff and Wales team-mate Andy Powell seemed to be the highlight of the week for a lot of the lads. If you don’t know much about him, Andy is a larger-than-life character who can liven up any proceedings.
“At a formal black-tie dinner on Wednesday night, Geech asked the management to stand up.
“At that point Andy took it upon himself to get to his feet and join the management.
“That went down a treat in front of 500 people.”
Roll on Saturday.
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