Morning:
2°c
England's Tom Croft became a Lion thanks to the foul play of Munster's Alan Quinlan and is on course to make the Test team at the expense of another Irishman in Stephen Ferris, who has every reason to feel uneasy ahead of tomorrow's clash with the Sharks.
With Ireland having won the Grand Slam and the Heineken Cup thanks to Leinster's victory over Croft and his Leicester team-mates, it appeared Irish influence on this tour would be all embracing.
But Croft has been outstanding and suddenly Ulsterman Ferris is no longer favourite to wear the Test No6 jersey alongside fellow Slam winners David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip.
It was assumed that Ferris, as an original pick by the Lions management, had a head start on Croft. But the Leicester flanker/lock has impressed all season with his high work rate, world-class line-out play and pace that revives memories of Andy Ripley, the England No8 and a member of the all-conquering 1974 Lions in South Africa.
Having been called up late due to Quinlan's ban for gouging, Croft could have been fired by anger but he side stepped that suggestion with the skills of a man who in his youth studied contemporary, modern and street dancing. "It's not about proving a point or proving why I should be here," said the 23-year-old. "I consider my selection a massive honour.
"I have been selected because the coaches think I have something I can contribute, so all I can do is go out on the pitch and do what I do for Leicester and England."
Croft's performances have had a marked effect on Ferris with the Ireland blind-side flanker taking every opportunity to show his own long-range try-scoring power.
However, a yellow card in the 26-24 win over the Cheetahs is working against Ferris as the South African side scored 14 points while he sat dejectedly on the touchline. Not even being named man of the match - a remarkable achievement given his sin-bining - could raise Ferris's spirits after the match and all he wanted to talk about was the negatives in his display.
It was illuminating to hear Ferris say that what really irked him was defensive work he rated as "average" because the 6ft 4ins, 17st flanker had failed to put in enough "shots", which is his way of describing big tackles.
It is significant because the one area Croft, 6ft 6ins and 16st 7lbs, is not considered world class is producing bone-crunching tackles.
Ferris sees this as his "joker" to be played at key times in a match but Croft is able to counter this with athletic line- out play that can be worth a dozen big hits if the Lions are able to launch repeated back-line raids off this quick ball. Despite fielding two strong line-out men in Paul O'Connell and Alun-Wyn Jones at lock in Durban tomorrow, the Lions will still use Croft because he is the most natural leaper in their ranks. It is why Leicester put him into the second row to win the Guinness Premiership and reach the Heineken Cup Final and why his original omission was so baffling.
For now Croft is just happy to be here. He said: "Each game we play, we hope to improve. The back-row boys have been training well and there's a great atmosphere around the camp."
London Wasps have appointed Trevor Woodman, the England 2003 World Cup-winning prop, as forwards coach along with gaelic football expert John McCloskey as skills coach for next season. Woodman was forced to quit rugby at just 29 due to injury and then emigrated to Australia where he coached Sydney University.
Wasps have also signed England prop Jason Hobson from relegated Bristol.
Boys on tour
Scotland international Nathan Hines has had to watch his language on tour. For the Perpignan lock admits that his days in France have caused some confusion for him here in South Africa. He said: “A couple of times I have been about to say something in French at training and had to stop myself!”
Hines's decision to represent the Lions meant he missed his club winning the French title on Saturday.
