Warren Gatland predicts Springboks won't be ready

Warren Gatland, the Lions forwards coach, believes his side's South African hosts could go into next month's three-Test series without enough match practice.

The Lions have six games against South Africa's top provincial sides before the opening Test in Durban on 20 June, while the Springboks will have only one warm-up match against a Namibian XV on Friday.

In addition, that squad will be missing as many as six potential Test starters as the Bulls face the Waikato Chiefs in the Super-14 final the following day in Pretoria.

While he acknowledged the Lions have not played together as a team before and were starting from scratch, Gatland said: "There are six games before the opening test match and South Africa could be a bit underdone. We are hoping that gives us a slight advantage."