Springboks V British and Irish Lions: 3rd Test Preview

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The British and Irish Lions meanwhile have made 8 changes, mostly due to injury.

In the forwards, Sheridan and Vickery need to ensure the Lions get a solid scrum going. The flank combination looks strengthened in my view with Martyn Williams and Joe Worsley, although Heaslip at number eight is a weak point for me.

The backline looks disjointed and the midfield decidely shaky. Replacing Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll with Riki Flutey and Tommy Bowe takes so much away from where the Lions can attack. In Shane Williams, Ugo Monye and Rob Kearney they have some three-quarters who can threaten the Boks, but not without being set up well. I fear the Lions attack will be fairly blunt and they'll rely a lot on the boot of Stephen Jones.

Then there is the cauldron of Ellis Park. The "Field of dreams" for South Africa. We don't lose here. We won't lose here. And I'm picking the Boks to win by 20 as the altitude once again takes effect and we start to dominate a Lions side that simply won't have the firepower, the stamina or the desire to compete with a Springbok side that having won the series can now express itself without the pressures of winning a series. Go Bokke Go!

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