British and Irish Lions

The strength of the opening team to face Paul O'Connell's 2009 British & Irish Lions can be measured by the fact they will draw players from three of the four teams that have reached the semi-finals of the R1m Vodacom Cup.

The Highveld, or Royal XV, will be coached by Chaka Willemse, who saw his Leopards team book a semi-fijnal slot this weekend against the Blue Bulls with a 32-16 win over the Eagles.
Willemse will consider players from the Blue Bulls if required for his squad to face the Lions in Rustenburg on Saturday, 30 May. He will also be able to pick players from the Griquas, Griffons, Valke and Pumas.
The Griquas, coached by former Springbok Dawie Theron, beat Free State 30-25 in Kimberely to book their ticket in the last four. Theron, who will assist Willemse with the coaching against the Lions, now has to prepare his side to face the Sharks in Durban.
The Lions face the Sharks in their third tour match.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.