By Wynona Louw 
Jul 28, 2021
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CAPE TOWN – Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am says they’re expecting the British & Irish Lions to change things up in their second Test of the Series at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
Looking at the team Lions chief Warren Gatland has named for the encounter, there are enough pointers to have us believe that challenging the Springboks at their own game at least had a hand in the three changes he’s made to the starting XV.
Conor Murray, on the other hand, has not had the same impact, and if the Lions were again planning on going for contestable bombardment and testing the Boks with a wide game, dropping Price from the run-on side wouldn’t be your first guess.
In midfield, Chris Harris replacing Elliot Daly at outside centre isn’t too big a shock considering Harris’ form on this tour, while his physicality in contact and solid defence are certainly two factors that will come in handy against Jacques Nienaber’s team.
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Speaking during the team announcement press conference, Am said that he feels the tourists are going to ‘adapt’ to what the Springboks presented to them.
“You can never know their plans, but I think we are very good at adapting and reading what is happening on the field,” he said.
“We obviously expect some sort of a change because of the personnel that they have. That’s something we’re preparing for and will be aware of during the game.”
“It was quite intentional, setting the standards and try to stamp down the physicality that we were going to cause from minute one to minute 80,” Am said.
“As a team, we’ve always had this great defensive mindset and it’s something that we’ve been really good on and something we’ve been very proud of.
“I think this weekend it will be another physical battle.”
The second match of the three-Test Series kicks off at 6pm on Saturday.
@WynonaLouw
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