Two of the major advantages offered to the host nations of Lions tours is continuity and familiarity. Continuity in team selection and strategy, and familiarity among those who don the black, gold or green of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
The Springboks have been denied both by the pandemic. The last time the leaping antelope graced a rugby field was in November 2019 when Siya Kolisi’s men trounced England to lift the Rugby World Cup in Yokohama, Japan.