British Lions / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 17 June 2009 / Leave a comment

Betting.betfair.com's newest recruit - Cardiff, Wales and British Lions centre Tom Shanklin - on injury heartbreak, the key battles in the first test and the Francois Steyn factor.

The tour so far has seen the British & Irish Lions undefeated with four games still to go. With the first test only two days away the warm up games have played a pivotal role as a lot of the touted starting test team haven't gelled as well as expected. This has opened up a few surprises for others, namely Tommy Bowe, Ugo Monye, James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Lee Mears, and Tom Croft.

At a glance the tour has been good, as the Lions continued to win despite not playing their best. Nonetheless, as each game has passed they have made a steady improvement. Some players have played five or six games which on a tight tour schedule can be hard work, but at the same time it commands squad intensity and camaraderie. Martyn Williams and Gethin Jenkins have been updating me via texts on how they've been getting on. They've said how good the tour has been because everyone in the squad is getting on really well. Now the final warm up game has passed however, the mood in the camp has changed as they wait upon selection, all vying for their first cap on tour.

Watching my friends and teammates play in what could be their first test this Saturday for the British & Irish Lions - ultimately the pinnacle of their career - it's hard to describe the feeling of what could have been. To go from being selected - an honour you can only dream of achieving in your rugby career - to withdrawing from the squad through injury within what felt like a matter of days, was incredibly hard to deal with. It's specially tough after having gone through virtually the same ordeal during the 2005 tour. However disappointing it has been though, I'm a huge fan of rugby and like everyone else, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching what I hope to be a historic tour.

The first test this weekend will undoubtedly be extremely tight, with the Springboks having selected a strong team that's included a few surprises. To name but a couple, Heinrich Brussow is playing instead of Schalk Burger and Adi Jacobs instead of Jacque Fourie. Ruan Pienaar is starting at 10 after six weeks out with an injury and Francois Steyn is starting at full back due to key injuries in that position.

I think the key battles this weekend will be Jean de Villiers v Jamie Roberts. Both are big physical men who are key to giving their team go forward ball. Both the Lions and Springboks will look to unleash these men into their opposing side's midfield, creating quick gainline ball. De Villiers is the catalyst for the Springboks' back line both in attack and defence. He will have to be marshalled with great care, and if any player can do it, the power house that is Roberts, can.

Another key battle will be between John Smit and Gethin Jenkins. They are two world class players who've proved themselves at the highest level. The scrum is the bread and butter of every rugby game. It will not only provide a solid platform from which the Lions can launch Jamie Heaslip into Ruan Pienaar, but it will also allow an extremely exciting and talented backline the chance to show how devastating they can be.

My one to watch for the first test is Francois Steyn. Any loose kicks out of defence and you know what's coming. Steyn can fire drop goals from nearly anywhere around the park. He may take five attempts to nail one, or score with his first. Whichever he does, the crowd and players will feed off it.

On the betting front, I would recommend backing the Lions at [3.55].