THE Lions will hope jet-lag and general travel weariness will be their allies when they take on the Highlanders in Dunedin, on the South Island of New Zealand and one of Super Rugby's remotest outposts, on Saturday.
After their defeat in Cape Town, the Highlanders returned home on four flights this week, the longest journey by time and distance in Super Rugby.
History suggests it is more about the journey than the destination for the Highlanders. Jamie Joseph's side have an appalling record in their first match following a tour of SA, having last won in 2007 when they beat the Stormers at Carisbrook.
Their only other win in the past decade following a flight east over the Indian Ocean was against the Reds in Brisbane in 2005.
Since the competition's inception in 1996, they have won just five out of 19 first engagements following a SA tour.
Frankly, the Lions need all the help they can get and the travel-weary Highlanders present them an opportunity to add to the four wins they have recorded this season.
However, they have not won since they beat the Reds at Ellis Park in March.
Their latest setback was the 38-8 defeat last weekend against the Chiefs and they will have to show marked improvement if they want to win at a venue where the Blues, the Hurricanes, the Rebels and the Bulls have all slipped up this season.
The Highlanders have been the surprise packages in a highly competitive New Zealand conference in which just five points separate as many participating teams.
Much of the Highlanders' success can be attributed to the performances of star flyhalf Lima Sopoaga, whom they will be desperate to press into action this weekend.
Sopoaga sustained what appeared to be an ankle injury at Newlands but he is likely to be declared fit.
The Lions can do with some magic from their first receiver and coach Johan Ackermann will have some interesting decisions to make.
Elton Jantjies earned a rare start against the Chiefs but failed to impress, while Marnitz Boshoff, who came off the bench as substitute fullback, was desperately disappointing in Hamilton.
Should Jantjies start, his battle with Sopoaga should be one of the key features of the match.
Jet-lag may be Lions ally
THE Lions will hope jet-lag and general travel weariness will be their allies when they take on the Highlanders in Dunedin, on the South Island of New Zealand and one of Super Rugby's remotest outposts, on Saturday.
After their defeat in Cape Town, the Highlanders returned home on four flights this week, the longest journey by time and distance in Super Rugby.
History suggests it is more about the journey than the destination for the Highlanders. Jamie Joseph's side have an appalling record in their first match following a tour of SA, having last won in 2007 when they beat the Stormers at Carisbrook.
Their only other win in the past decade following a flight east over the Indian Ocean was against the Reds in Brisbane in 2005.
Since the competition's inception in 1996, they have won just five out of 19 first engagements following a SA tour.
Frankly, the Lions need all the help they can get and the travel-weary Highlanders present them an opportunity to add to the four wins they have recorded this season.
However, they have not won since they beat the Reds at Ellis Park in March.
Their latest setback was the 38-8 defeat last weekend against the Chiefs and they will have to show marked improvement if they want to win at a venue where the Blues, the Hurricanes, the Rebels and the Bulls have all slipped up this season.
The Highlanders have been the surprise packages in a highly competitive New Zealand conference in which just five points separate as many participating teams.
Much of the Highlanders' success can be attributed to the performances of star flyhalf Lima Sopoaga, whom they will be desperate to press into action this weekend.
Sopoaga sustained what appeared to be an ankle injury at Newlands but he is likely to be declared fit.
The Lions can do with some magic from their first receiver and coach Johan Ackermann will have some interesting decisions to make.
Elton Jantjies earned a rare start against the Chiefs but failed to impress, while Marnitz Boshoff, who came off the bench as substitute fullback, was desperately disappointing in Hamilton.
Should Jantjies start, his battle with Sopoaga should be one of the key features of the match.