The Lions have won two of the last three series' in the Republic, with White blaming missed opportunities with the boot and a revolving door selection policy for South African disappointments.
"In 1997, the Springboks outscored the Lions nine tries to three but lost the series because they didn't have a goalkicker," says White, who can point to the second Test in Durban in which Neil Jenkins and Jeremy Guscott kicked the Lions to victory as a prime example of where the Lions got it right and the Boks got it wrong.
"In 1974 [when the Lions won the four-match series 3-0], the selectors tried to swap the players around.
"We used 33 in the four Tests. So this time there's got to be consistency in selection."
White also feels strongly that the 2009 Springboks must pick the best players available rather than limiting their options by ignoring star players currently playing overseas. The likes of Butch James and CJ van der Linde are currently based outside of South Africa, with head coach Peter de Villiers stating that they will only be picked as a last resort.
That policy does not sit comfortably with White, who feels those players based in the UK and Ireland may be able to offer a unique insight into exactly what the Lions will bring to the table in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
"If winning means choosing two or three overseas-based players, then you do that. You'd be crazy if you didn't.
"They'd have more time to prepare, plus they would understand the opposition they're coming up against."
If de Villiers does heed his predecessor's warnings, however, White feels the world champions have more than enough talent to defeat the best Britain and Ireland has to offer. Despite his reservations, White is confident that South Africa will be celebrating come June 20, 27 and July 4.
"Obviously I'm biased about those players I rated highly, but South Africa does have a very special group of players at the moment," added White.
"The first Test in Durban will be a most important clash because it will set the benchmark for the series.
"Peter de Villiers has some options in terms of selection. He could choose a lot of players from a top-class Sharks side because they'd have home ground advantage, but the negative is that they might have come straight off a gruelling Super 14 final.
"Whatever they (the Lions) throw at the Springboks I believe they can pick the players to counter that. There is no reason the Springboks can't win the series."
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