Although touring places were earned over a prolonged period and one game is not the be all and end all, the fact that such a large number of potential Test stars stumbled on the big stage must surely concern the coaches. However all is not lost, as where some players have seemingly lost a bit of form, others have stepped up to the plate and further pressed their Test claims.

As well as exactly who will pull on the famous red jersey in Durban for the First Test on June 20, the way the chosen fifteen will be instructed to approach the challenge of facing the Springboks is still open to much debate.

When facing South Africa, the battle up front is never anything but intense; it is vital that McGeechan gets the pack selection right if the Lions are to be competitive. The initial squad selection certainly looks to be a ‘heavy’ one, with the plan seeming to be to front up to the Boks and play from there. Only time will tell if this is idea is the right one.

I see winning the contact area as a massive part of the Lions gameplan. Captain Paul O’Connell certainly won’t take a backward step, but he needs to inspire the rest of his forward colleagues to follow his example. Welsh prop Gethin Jenkins looks a Test certainty, with his ability to get around the park away from scrum time proving invaluable.

Leaving the front five aside then, the back-row is where there are surely the most important calls to be made. With South Africa likely to call upon guys of the calibre of Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski, the Lions choices at 6, 7 and 8 must look to match both their physicality and speed at the breakdown. With this in mind, I feel that Leinster starlet Jamie Heaslip has to play at number eight. His physical presence, allied to a fantastic turn of pace for a big man, makes him a real asset at the back of the scrum, as well as providing vital ‘go forward’ ball.