AS THE LIONS reflected yesterday with immense satisfaction on their 25-16 victory in the first Test at Newlands, the Springboks were absorbing the lessons of defeat.
The South Africans had stated on Saturday that they would announce their team today for the second Test at King's Park, Durban next Saturday. They have had second thoughts and decided to defer selection. It is now anticipated that the team will be announced on Wednesday.
That could be significant as they seek remedial action in the wake of events at Newlands. One man definitely out is centre Edrich Lubbe, who pulled a hamstring during Saturday's match.
The South African coach, Carel du Plessis, and his players have bad something of a verbal onslaught from the South African press. They have been accused of wrong tactics, poor selection, missed chances and more.
It was neither rehabilitation nor celebration for the Lions players yesterday, however tired they felt. It was back to the training ground for the Lions at 10 a.m. yesterday morning before they flew to Durban in the afternoon.
The match on Saturday left its legacy in the form of injuries to three players - outhalf Gregor Townsend, hooker Keith Wood and loose head prop Tom Smith. But the good news is that all three will be fit for the second Test, although they did not train yesterday.
In fact, the team that had played on Saturday need not have trained, but they decided that they would do so as a gesture of solidarity with their colleagues.
Lions manager Fran Cotton said: "It was the Test team players' decision to train. That is typical of the unity and solidarity in the squad. The most worrying of the injuries was that sustained by Townsend. We thought initially he might have a broken rib, but it is in fact a bruised rib cartilage."
Townsend will have recovered in a couple of days, but will not, in the interim, do any physical contact training.
"Wood has a swollen ankle and Smith also has an ankle injury," team doctor James Rob son said. We have no anxiety about their fitness for next Saturday," said Cotton.
There are two influenza victims, second row Simon Shaw, now recovering from the virus and wing Tony Underwood, who went down with the bug on Saturday night. Eric Miller is now fully recovered from the influenza virus that cost him his place in the Test team.
The Lions have another assignment before the Test and that is against Free State in Bloemfontein tomorrow night. The 21 for that match, who will be named this afternoon, will fly to Bloemfontein tomorrow and return late tomorrow night to Durban.
"It is an in and out trip," said Cotton. "We want all our players ready to train on Wednesday morning for the second Test. Only the players involved in the match in Bloemfontein and the management will fly to Bloemfontein. The rest of the party will stay in Durban."
Cotton said that the Lions were "emotionally drained but very contented, but that is to be expected after the endeavour in the Test win. Once more, we finished the stronger side," said Cotton, who again praised the Lions' defence as "awesome".
"That match was like a world heavyweight boxing title bout. That is what Test rugby in the southern hemisphere is about. It is not an unfair comparison. This is another level above the Five Nations series."
He also singled out Ireland prop Paul Wallace for special praise. "Paul came out extremely well in his direct confrontation with Os du Randt. We were given no chance and that suited us. I think we have now proved we can compete and win against the southern hemisphere. We have just beaten the world champions."
The team to meet Free State will be named this afternoon. Miller is likely to play tomorrow night. Free State are among the strongest of the South African provincial sides and, of course, Bloemfontein is on the high veldt.
