Asked whether the novelty of a full rugby tour is important, Davies said: “That is one of the most important values of the Lions, I am sure if you asked the New Zealanders, South Africans and Australians they would like to travel and tour a little more than they do currently, they would like something added to the Test matches they already play.

“When I was appointed manager we thought that it was important to go round and meet, as we are doing today, the media representatives in the four home countries and without question they believed in the Lions and one said that it is the 'one last, great rugby adventure.'

“I think that is the way that we must look on the Lions and the value that it brings to rugby and the additional value is the interest from the public, they want it, the players want it and I believe that everyone attached to rugby wants the Lions to continue especially in the professional age.”

McGeechan replied: “From what I have heard a few of the South Africans want to be here or be in a position that they want to play games against the Lions.

“When you have got that affect on players, in both camps, then you know there must be something very good about it.

“It is that link in a professional era with what has gone in the past and I think players see it and expect it is a totally different challenge to anything they will ever do as a professional rugby player but is something that I think that because it is only ever every four years - or every 12 years to South Africa - that they see it as quite special part of their careers if they get the opportunity to be part it.”

Asked the prupose of the fact-finding trip, McGeechan said: “It is to look at the hotels, training grounds, the actual structure of our tour, the timings of when we want to be moving around - all those sort of things I think it is important to try and get right - and also the opportunity of watching the Springboks play Wales in the two Tests.

“I think it is important as we are becoming part of [this] country for seven or eight weeks and it is very important to have a feel for what it is like. I would love as well to come back and look at one or two of the Tri Nations games, it all helps in our mind to know ultimately the sort of player that in 12 months time we will need to be part of the Lions.

"I am delighted to be coming back to South Africa, I have enjoyed the rugby here. I think a lot of British & Irish players will say they were influenced by playing rugby here or playing against the Springboks and it is a great tour to be looking forward to.

“For Gerald and I this is really the beginning, we have come together this week for an initial recce to look at hotels, training grounds and also for the two of us to look at our own structures of what we want to do and how we want to run the Tour.”

Being in Cape Town, it was brought up that Newlands will not be a Test venue, and McGeechan commented: “We are playing there twice [in non-Test matches], I think that it is important for the Lions to be playing at Newlands so there are two games there that we are pleased about.

“There are four very good Test grounds in South Africa, so when there is only three Tests there is going to be one missing out.”

Questioned whether a Lions victory would help towards the touring side’s long-term future, Davies said: “As far as Ian and myself are concerned we are simply looking at the Lions in 2009.

“A number of people have looked back to 2005 to see what myself and Ian will do in 2009 but really there is no point looking back over your shoulder as to what has happened, I think it is much better to look at the present and see what we are likely to achieve in 12 months time.

“I think that the Lions is a terrific brand, it is something that should survive forever in my view, not only for us as the four countries that represent the Lions but especially I think that the Southern hemisphere teams need the Lions.

“If it were ever to go, I think that it would be a sad, sad day and would leave such a vacuum in the game if the Lions did not exist.

“There is terrific enthusiasm here already in South Africa and believe me the expectation of the number of people that will follow us from the UK will be a substantial number so the value of the Lions is essential for the future of the game."