Welcome to the Lions' den

There are seven players from the successful Lions Super Rugby franchise in the Bok matchday 23 for the second Test between South Africa and Ireland.

For three of those the Johannesburg Test will be 'firsts' – Elton Jantjies making his first Test start at flyhalf (his previous three caps having been off the bench), while lock Franco Moster and utility back Ruan Combrinck are set to make their Test debuts off the bench.

And with an expected near capacity crowd of 60,000 to support them, the Lions players may just provide the energy that lacked in last week's 20-26 loss to the Irish in Cape Town.

The trio of Jantjies, Mostert and Combrinck will be able to county on the support of some familiar faces – starting centre Lionel Mapoe, scrumhalf Francois de Klerk, as well as replacements Julian Redelinghuys (prop) and Warren Whiteley (loose forward).

Mostert, who has been one f the Lions' most consistent players for the last couple of years, said to realise his dream at his homeground will make the occasion so much sweeter.

He added that it helps having his Lions teammates in the squad, as they have made the newcomers feel at home.

"I hope to make a positive impact for the team," the lock said, adding that the Bok tight five will have to raise their game against a "very physical" Irish pack.

"Our tight five must bring the physicality and take it a step up," Moster said, adding: "We must stick to our guns and show them what we are made of."

He said his role as a replacement would be to "up the tempo" and increase the pace of the game.

Asked about his all-action game, the lock said it "comes from the heart".

"If your mind is set on giving everything for the guy next to you, you will never stop playing," he said.

Combrinck, a product of Michael House, admitted getting his Bok call-up  wasn't the easiest road – having been discarded by both the Sharks and Western Province, before moving to the Lions in 2012.

"However, if you have a dream and a vision, you use your talents and work hard it will happen when it is meant to happen," the deeply religious utility back said.

"I had a big mindset change in the last 12 months, something that comes with age," he said about his change from as a free-spirited youngster to a more mature 26-year-old.

"Now that the breakthrough has come I must capitalise on it."

He attributed the massive change in his life to the work of the Lions psychologist Jannie Putter.

"He has taught us so much about life, the small things in life that you don't always see.

"It opens your mind to so many things, and he pushes you so much closer to your goals and dreams.

"The past year so much has happened in my life off the field that contributed to where I am now."

He said if we was to have been called up last year, his mindset would not have been right.

"I would not have fitted into the [Bok] set-up," he said, adding: "I was too much of a free-spirited player."

He also credited the Lions' awesome "brotherhood" for his improved form and personal growth.

"Since their re-introduction into Super Rugby [in 2014] it has been a different union, a different culture, a different way of thinking."

He openly admires the New Zealand style and their way of thinking about the game.

"They have this awesome attacking mindset and that is what happened at the Lions, I believe that will happen in South African rugby [at the Springboks] also."

While at the Lions he freely roams between fullback (as a right-footed kicking option) and wing, Combrink said he is happy to slot in wherever the Boks need him.

"I will catch a cannon ball for my country, they can put me at prop," he said, adding that it will be special to make hi debut at his home ground, Ellis Park.

"I've had this vision of running out at Ellis Park in front of 60,000 people – it is a mind-blowing picture."

Jantjies, who spoke about his maturity since his stints in Japan the last few years, is obviously also pleased to get his first start at Ellis Park.

However, he said it ill be all about the team "collective" on Saturday and not the individual achievements.

"I hate losing," he said about last week's loss, adding: "However, I deal with it by myself and make sure I don't drag negativity into the next week."

He said he will not putting a lot of pressure on himself to make his first start in the No.10 jersey something special.

"[I will just be] looking after my own job, within the team environment."

Then there is the reunion with regular Lions halfback partner Francois de Klerk.

"Like any team at the Boks we have our strategies and game plans in place.

"However, it comes down to decision-making as an individual. If Faf [De Klerk] wants to have a go or I want to have a go [it is okay]  – we all buy into the process of how we want to win the game.

"Whenever the opportunity arise it is all about making the right decision.

"It is about the team collective and making sure we win," Jantjies said, adding that the Ellis Park crowd will always support the Boks.

"They expect us to win," he said.

By Jan de Koning, in Johannesburg

@King365ed

@rugby365com