The Lions are adamant they lost on Saturday because of their own errors. Yes, the South African pack battered them at the scrum and the driving aspects of the tight game, a little similar to the storms at sea that made the front pages of the Cape Times on Thursday. Still the Lions insist that had they taken their clear-cut chances and not been quite so heavily penalised for whatever reason, they would be one-nil up.

The Springboks' view is utterly polarised. The first hour in which they bashed and kicked their way out to a 26-7 lead was the true reality, the last twenty a quarter of madness in which over-confidence (leading to a rash of substitutions) and a slight tiring after so long without competitive rugby were the stimulants behind the fabulous Lions fightback.

A week on and with a Test under their belt, the South Africans will be confident that the horrors of the final quarter will not be repeated. However, the Lions see their late collapse as proof that they lack an edge in terms of fitness and I believe that if they keep the ball moving and cut out the penalties, they will win in Pretoria.

The Springboks are confident they have what it takes to close the series out. The bench has shuffled from a 4-3 forwards/backs split into a 5-2 variant but other than that and the predictable return from injury of Schalk Burger, nothing has changed. The slashed midfield remains the same with Adi Jacobs and Jean de Villiers trusted ahead of the in-form duo of Jacque Fourie and local Blue Bull Wynand Olivier.

In stark contrast, all is change with the Lions. It is a bold policy to make five changes to a team that came within one converted try of winning the first test but boldness is what the Lions require to win at the Blue Bulls intimidating stadium.

The changes are an indication of what the problems were – as perceived from the Lions management camp – and how to eradicate, or at least limit them. Adam Jones had to come in for Phil Vickery whose long back was an irresistible target for the Beast and a South African scrum that was superb.

I cannot believe the Lions ever underestimated it, having watched the final round of Super 14 when the Sharks front row (the Springbok front row) battled and shaded the contest with the Bulls (the Springbok second row) and then I realised that match was only televised in highlights. All that money and preparation, please tell me the Lions had someone in person at Durban to nullify the foolish assertion that South Africans do not scrum.

If they were not it might explain the folly of the scrum but better late than never to get to grips with the problem. Adam Jones is famous for his hair-bear hairstyle and this can mask the tremendous technical ability of the man. Squatter than Vickery, he is a harder target for the Springboks. As in 1997, the Lions have opted for the less considered prop, the smaller one but unlike then they are a week late and have some catching up to do.

In the second row they have some stopping work to do. Simon Shaw has a reputation as one of the best exponents at legitimately pulling down the driving maul. After a 60 metre series of Springbok drives for their second half try, it is easy to see why he has muscled out the youthful promise of the slighter Alun-Wyn Jones.

Behind the scrum, the Lions have to finish what they create. Ugo Monye failed to do so on Saturday and has paid the inevitable price. The decision to opt for Luke Fitzgerald is a bold option. The safer one was possibly Shane Williams, whose defensive work is far more rounded. The Springboks will bring a big kicking game to the second test and while Fitzgerald has looked sharp in attack, his tendency to slice his clearance kicks appears a glaring weakness which the South Africans will attempt to target as ruthlessly as they did Vickery’s long high back in Durban.

His selection is a statement of intent – worry about the defensive issues but not to the extent that the ability to score tries is forgotten. It is a most un-northern hemisphere like approach to the game but one which all rugby romantics will find captivating.

At full back, Rob Kearney completes an all-Irish back three, which might just help to mask any kicking frailties of Fitzgerald. Indeed it is an Irish "back four" with Brian O’ Driscoll at outside centre.