South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus expecting surprises from Lions

South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is expecting surprise moves from his counterpart Warren Gatland when the two teams compete in a three-game Test series in July.

Erasmus already had a close fought encounter against Gatland when South Africa and Wales battled in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup which the Springboks went on to win 19-16 and eventually also defeated England in the final to win the tournament.

Admitting that he was surprised by some of the selections made by Gatland for the Lions tour of South Africa, Erasmus reckons fierce competition when the two teams lock horns with each other.

"Scotland have got eight players in the squad and five of them are backline players. Gregor Townsend is the attack coach. That must tell you something," Erasmus told reporters on Friday.

"If you look at their forwards, it is a fast, quick pack.

"The props are mobile, quick guys. The same with the loose forwards. If Courtney Lawes is playing lock then all those loose-forwards are fast and busy.

"We are definitely going to see a mix [in style of play], not the Wales test match [in 2019] of who grinds it out."

The three-game Test series will be played on 24th July, 31st July and 7th August with Cape Town and Johannesburg being the venues.