Biggar and Lawes ready and raring for opening Boks Test

Northampton Saints fly-half Dan Biggar believes the British & Irish Lions have the right game plan to beat World Champions South Africa in the first Test this weekend.

Warren Gatland’s touring side lock horns with the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday (kick-off 5pm UK time), with Biggar and Courtney Lawes both starting the match.

It will be a debut Test appearance for the Lions for 31-year-old No.10 Biggar, and a maiden Lions Test start for Lawes, 32, who packs down on the blindside flank having won his previous two Lions Test caps from the bench in New Zealand in 2017.

And the Northampton fly-half insists that, after five victories and one defeat from six matches so far, his side know what they need to do if they want to start off the crucial Test series with a win.

“I think everyone who plays against South Africa knows what they’re going to present,” said Biggar. “Unless you match it, you’re in a bit of trouble. You’re going to get overrun.

“First and foremost, it’s about making sure you play in the right areas and taking your chances. We’ll have some plays up our sleeves to target some areas which we see as weaknesses.

“They want you to make errors in your own half to allow them to have territory and get into their power game. It’s about staying in the arm wrestle, not giving them anything cheap and then taking your chances when you get them.”

Lawes is also looking forward to trading blows with South Africa, having impressed on the tour so far.

The Saints forward said: “We have to be ready to put our bodies on the line and we will be fully prepared to do that.

“They are going to want to dominate us up front and we have known that the entire tour.

“We saw a glimpse of it against South Africa ‘A’ and we need to be prepared for that.

“I am excited for the challenge – they play a type of rugby I enjoy playing and I am looking forward to getting out there and showing what I can do.”