There is always a special feel to the first Test of any Lions series in South Africa, a step into the unknown for the vast majority of those involved. All sorts of questions and hopes hang heavily in the air.
Can the Lions actually gel and put a proper performance together in the heat of battle and will the Boks be a little ring-rusty and vulnerable? These are the perennial questions even if on this occasion the ferocious South Africa A match in midweek felt like an unofficial Test and ‘ice breaker' and would have provided mountains of food for thought for both camps. In that respect both camps are unusually up to pace.
But, of course, pandemic issues and the building political unrest and violence in the streets in South Africa adds an extra dimension.
Will the game even take place – anything could happen in the next six days – and what does a Lions Test series against the Boks actually look and feel like when it's played in empty stadia.
We are about to find out but my prediction is the usual quota of drama, excellence and controversy will ensue. Both teams know how important it is to get off to a win and the record in the 13 first Tests between the two sides dating back to 1891 is pretty even: six Boks wins, five for the Lions and two draws.
The Lions in South Africa have only ever won the series when they triumph in the first Test.
There have been tales to tell. First and foremost is probably the Lions historic 23-22 win at Ellis Park in 1955 in front of a then world record crowd of 90,000, indeed some police estimates said 95,000. This was the first time the Lions had played in apartheid South Africa – the hateful legislation had been introduced in 1948 – although the de facto subjugation of the blacks and ethnic minorities was clear to see long before.
For the Tests non-white fans – including a young Nelson Mandela and his boxing club mates who went as a group – were corralled into pens and naturally cheered the Lions mightily.
And they had much to cheer that day. It was a game of thrilling attacking rugby which was not the norm for the time which garnered nine tries, five for the Lions and four for the Boks. Lions fly-half Cliff Morgan always rated their first score, a team move finished off by Irishman Cec Pedlow, as one of the best he ever saw or participated in.
“I was on my backside after taking a tackle but had a grandstand view of the final stages,” recalled the great man a few years later. “It was like a piece of poetry, just thrilling to watch. It should have been put to music. We played with abandon and madness from the off that day, I'm not quite sure what got into us.”
The Lions built a 15-point lead that day which was just as well because their England flanker Reg Higgins, not a name many remember these days, broke a leg early in the second half and no replacements were allowed. After that it became a backs-to-the-wall effort with the Lions scraping home by one point.
Some of the best openers have come down at sea level in Cape Town, where Saturday's match will be played.
In 1974 the Lions encountered a rare week of bad weather, and the first Test was played in treacherous muddy conditions which suited them just fine. They won more easily than the 12-3 scoreline suggests and there was a real collector's item when Gareth Edwards landed a long range dropped goal. It was a memorable start even if nothing in that scrappy, feisty game hinted at the Lions fireworks to follow ahead in the next two Tests.
The 1997 game was a gripping affair with South Africa starting as narrow favourites. The Lions had generally shown up very well in the preparation matches but a couple of unconvincing scrummaging displays against Western Province and Northern Transvaal had identified a possible fault-line which was remedied by the selection of two diminutive low slung props in Paul Wallace and Tom Smith.
Ultimately the result and arguably the series depended on a little remembered moment in the second half. After an uncertain start the Boks were really cranking it up, finally looking like the world champions they were. They were leading 16-12 when replacement full-back Russell Bennett raced in for the Boks third try and his second try since coming on as a replacement after half-time.
Bennett, who had impressed for Border against the tourists, was on fire and you could see why most South African journalists were tipping him as the long-term replacement for the great Andre Joubert. He looked class.
As he crossed the Boks celebrated, their supporters went wild, the Lions hung their heads and the British and Irish media contingent groaned in unison.
But wait, referee Colin Hawke, like an umpire considering his decision for an eternity, eventually signalled a forward pass. No TMO back then. Now our Press box for that game was ridiculously situated high in the stands between the 22 and try line directly opposite to where Bennett took the ball and even a forward pass pedant like myself had to concede it wasn't unduly suspicious. If that was a forward pass so was Neil Jenkins' to Alan Tait for the Lions' matchclincher later in the game.
It was a huge moment and gives a lie to the notion that the Lions always come off worse against referees in South Africa. It could/should have been 23-12 down, instead they were still within a score and went on to win 25-16.
They might have fought back if the try had stood… but then again they might not which would have made the dynamic in the second Test in Durban very different.
As for Bennett, who might have been lauded a national hero, we scarcely heard from him ever again. A sliding doors moment for him and his team. Small margins and I expect it to be the same on Saturday.
