Springboks v British & Irish Lions ON for now, BUT …

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement late on Sunday that South Africa will be moving to adjusted Level 4 Covid-19 restrictions with immediate effect there were concerns the British & Irish Lions’ tour of the country would be in jeopardy.

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The new restrictions will be in place for two weeks (until Sunday, 11 July) with every likelihood they will be extended.

However, on Monday it was confirmed in the government gazette that all professional sporting events are still allowed to go ahead.

The British & Irish Lions are literally in the air en route to South Africa for their eight-match tour which kicks off on Saturday, 3 July against the Lions in Johannesburg.

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Ramaphosa did make specific mention of the fact that travel in and out of Gauteng was prohibited unless “for work, transporting good, funerals or to return home”.

The problem is that no fewer than FIVE of the matches are scheduled for Gauteng (Johannesburg and Pretoria) with the other three set to take place in Cape Town.

Should the restrictions have a positive effect and be halted or relaxed in 14 days’ time, SA Rugby may catch a fortuitous break with travel permitted to Cape Town for the fourth, fifth and sixth matches – including the first Test.

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However, is that a risk worth taking? Will the five matches in Gauteng now me moved to another province to eliminate the possibility of being effectively “trapped” on the highveld?

Or will the tour simply be called off as more and more believe should be the case?

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Gauteng is the hot-bed of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and hosting five of the eight matches in the epicentre would seemingly be a daft move.

SA Rugby’s hopes of having any spectators at the matches – certainly the first three – were ended by Ramaphosa’s announcement on Sunday.

SA Rugby’s initial desire for 50% capacity was reduced to a desperate plea for 10 000 attendees.

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The British & Irish Lions will be quite happy one would assume with no fans rather than 10 000 screaming Springbok supporters seeing as no supporters of the composite team will be allowed to attend.

Compounding matters, on Sunday sensational news also broke that three Springboks – Herschel Jantjies, Vincent Koch and Sbu Nkosi – had tested positive for Covid-19 and that the entire squad is currently in self-isolation as a result in Bloemfontein.

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This just four days away from their first Test against Georgia – in Pretoria!

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SPRINGBOKS V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SCHEDULE:

Saturday, 3 July: Lions v British & Irish Lions (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) – 18:00

Wednesday, 7 July: Sharks v British & Irish Lions (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) – 20:00

Saturday, 10 July: Bulls v British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria) – 18:00

Wednesday, 14 July: South Africa ‘A’ v British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) – 20:00

Saturday, 17 July: Stormers v British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) – 18:00

Saturday, 24 July: Springboks v British & Irish Lions (1st Test, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) – 18:00

Saturday, 31 July: Springboks v British & Irish Lions (2nd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) – 18:00

Saturday 7 August: Springboks v British & Irish Lions (3rd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) – 18:00

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