The class of 2009 return to the same venue this weekend as they kick-off the three-match Test series against the reigning world champions and Guscott feels Springbok head coach Peter de Villiers may have missed a trick in his preparations.
Only reserve prop Deon Carstens has featured in any of the six provincial fixtures against the 2009 Lions and, although Guscott says he expected as much prior to the tour, his experiences 12 years ago suggest the Boks may have made a mistake.
"One thing that I was surprised at when we went to South Africa in '97 was that (Springbok coach) Carel du Plessis made the basic error of not putting their Test players in the provincial team," said Guscott, who played in all three Tests in '97, as well as three more in '93 and the second and third Tests in 1989.
"I understand why it was done - they didn't want any injuries and wanted to keep them wrapped up - but I think you need to get a feel of what you're up against. To just be thrown in straight away is sometimes difficult.
"It happened in 2001, it happened in 2005 and it'll happen again now," Guscott explained prior to the current tour.
"I'm not sure it crosses their minds to put Test players in the provincial teams. It won't happen on this tour just because of the nature of the fixtures - you can see it's not going to happen.
"I think it's something that was missing in '97. If du Plessis looks back now, would he have changed it? I think possibly he may have."
