McGeechan and Davies back for more
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:17
The British and Irish Lions coach and manager for next year's tour to South Africa have, as promised, returned to watch the Boks perform in the Tri-Nations as part of their tour preparations.
Ian McGeechan and Gareth Davies are currently in Durban with their respective wives, and are looking forward to Saturday's Tri-Nations spectacle between the Springboks and Australia - marking their second visit to South Africa this year.
British and Irish Lions management visited South Africa in June this year to inspect the various venues where the Lions will play next year, and also took in the incoming tour Tests between the Springboks and Wales.
It is a betting certainty that the two former internationals and leading management officials of next year's tour are using this opportunity to identify any possible weaknesses in the Springbok side
and to analyse their style of play under new coach Peter de Villiers - as they're set to watch South
Africa's back-to-back home Tri-Nations Tests against the Wallabies.
It should also help the Lions management ascertain what type of player may be needed by the Lions for next year's tour.
McGeechan coached the 1997 version of the Lions to a 2-1 series win over the Boks, though admitted that the current class of Springboks is of a far higher quality.
The 2009 Lions tour thus looks to be the most meticulously planned tour yet.
With eight months to go before the tour, the venues and hotels have been inspected, training facilities identified, and four of the Boks' Tests under the new coach watched live.
SAPA
