The arrival of the British and Irish Lions in South Africa on Monday has finally signalled the real start of preparations for the forthcoming Test series, according to Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
Writing in his 'Coach's Column' on the South African Rugby Union website, www.sarugby.co.za, the national team boss insists that all their own grounding, though, since assembling this week has been concentrating on a practice match arranged for this Friday.
'It seems like ages ago that we began talking about the visit to South Africa of the British and Irish Lions in 2009,' De Villiers wrote.
'Now they are in our midst and preparing for the opening match of their first tour to our shores in 12 years. Whilst they go about their business, we are busy with preparing a South African XV for a practice match against a Namibian Invitation XV in Windhoek this week.'
The South African team themselves only assembled on Monday for what will be their only warm-up match against the Namibians ahead of the first of three Tests against the Lions on June 20.
And De Villiers said the mood has been excellent, despite the absence of players from the Bulls, who will contest the Super 14 final against the Chiefs on Saturday.
He continued: 'Although we do not have a full complement of players available with the Bulls playing in the Vodacom Super 14 final, we are working at getting as much as we possibly can from the Namibian game. This is our primary focus at this stage.
'We have included a few new faces into our group who we believe have potential and we will have an opportunity this week to see how they fit into our structures.
'The practice match will enable the established players in our group to get back together after several months with their Super 14 franchises.
'The mood has been good and we have had a few good training sessions here. The intensity has been good and I am happy. We still have a few players with niggles but they are being managed to ensure that they are available and fit when we face the Lions.'
De Villiers, who will announce his squad for the series next Monday, added: 'From there we will begin to up our intensity in the build-up to the crucial first Test in Durban.'
