VIDEO: B&I Lions focussed on the game, despite COVID scare
INTERVIEW: The touring British and Irish Lions opted to focus on the game, despite the COVID-19 scare that appeared in the Springbok camp at the weekend.
On the day that the B&I Lions arrived in South Africa, the hosts returned to training – following Sunday’s shock announcement that three players tested positive for COVID-19.
The Boks on Monday resumed their preparations for the forthcoming Tests against Georgia (July 2 and 9) and the B&I Lions (July 24 and 31, August 7), after feedback received from the Medical Advisory Group.
Veteran Welsh flyhalf Dan Biggar is adamant that his team’s focus is on improving their own game.
The B&I Lions are scheduled to play five of their eight matches, including two of the three Tests, in the Gauteng province – which is the epicentre of South Africa’s third wave of infections.
The tourists are due to play their first match against the Johannesburg-based Lions franchise at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Biggar, speaking after the B&I Lions beat Japan in a warm-up match in Edinburgh at the weekend, said they are not where they want to be, in terms of their game.
“Hopefully we will get better as each game goes on,” the 31-year-old flyhalf said, adding: “We will review and see what we must improve.”
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Bigger said the massive advantage of a tour is that every few days you get a chance to ‘improve’ on the last performance.
“We want to win every game and play well in every game,” he said, adding: “The emphasis of this tour is gearing up to ensure everything is in place in time for the first Test.
“We will go through a couple of weeks and games where we don’t get everything right.”
He said of the Japanese players caused problems similar to what they will encounter from the Springboks with their “pace, power and stepping ability”.
“The whole aim of the tour is to get better each week and hopefully peaking when the Tests comes round.”
The Wales flyhalf converted all four tries and it was his pass that set up Tadhg Beirne for his debut try – with Biggar’s game management and pin-point kicking helped to orchestrate the Lions attack throughout.
And having toured in 2017 to New Zealand, but missed out on the Test team, Biggar was delighted to make an instant impression in his first audition for the No.10 jersey.
“It’s always helpful when the team go well and sitting behind that pack early doors was a bit of an armchair really so full credit to the team, we put in a really good 30-35 minutes,” he said.
“Personally, I’m delighted to have started the Tour well and hopefully that’s just the start now and I can build on that along with the team.
“We’ve only been together a couple of weeks.
“There were lots of things that we put together which we worked on in training and there were lots of things that we’ll have to tidy up and spend a bit more time together with.
“I think as a first hit out against a team, who let’s not forget, got to the quarter-finals [of the World Cup] only a couple of years ago, and have got some unbelievably talented players.
“I think for us to come away with a win, obviously there are tons to work on, but it was a really positive start and hopefully we can build on it.”
@rugby365com, with additional reporting by @lionsofficial
