It was not a surprise to see the Lions management move quickly to put a positive spin on their unconvincing victory over the Royal XV.

"I was very pleased with a lot of the forward play", "It was a good start considering it was our first game" and "The encouraging thing was the way we came back" were just three such sound bites.

Assistant coach Rob Howley continued the theme this morning when he fronted up to the media insisting that centre Keith Earls, who had a game to forget, would, "be a much better player from the experience of yesterday."

Were the media too harsh in their own assessment of the game? I don't think so. OK, so it was hot, the game was played at altitude, there were new combinations and some of these players had not laced up their boots for weeks. But we're not interested in excuses. There remains a lot of work to do.

The Lions will be grateful for the stern test provided by the Royal XV. Rather that than a pointless stroll in the park like the 116-10 rout of Western Australia in the 2001 tour opener. They will have learnt a lot, and the way they dug deep to conjure a win was commendable - a loss would have seen the knives come out.

The players who didn't perform in Rustenburg will have to take their frustration out in training over the next week or so while others get a chance to stake a claim for a Test jersey.

Team doctor James Robson was also present this morning to deliver a medical update that included the gem concerning Stephen Ferris. The Ulster flanker was a late withdrawal from the Royal XV game with 'a lower leg strain'. Robson delighted in informing us that he picked up that injury stepping off the team bus last week - cue collective laughter. I'm sure Ferris will thank him for that one.

The team to face the Golden Lions at Ellis Park will be named tomorrow and thanks to the faltering display on Saturday, the pressure will be on those players to deliver a much-improved performance.

What a let down. To say that the Lions' first performance on tour was disappointing would be an understatement.

	There was no sign of any ticket touts at the Royal Bakofeng Stadium © Getty Images

The omens were there. The media bus was late arriving and reports suggested the wi-fi at the stadium was problematic - perhaps someone was trying to tell us something.

Thankfully for the Lions there weren’t that many people there to witness the game. An official figure of 12,352 was reported but I would be surprised if there was even half that! The ground was so empty I was sure I could hear the lineout calls from my position high up in the main stand.

Rows and Rows of empty seats in the 42,000 capacity stadium - including in the press box that can hold over 300 - greeted the Lions. It was a shame the occasion clashed with the Bulls' appearance in the Super 14 Final down the road in Pretoria where a rampant home side would later run riot.

The stadium announcer did his best to fill the void using a powerful PA system but he could have simply raised his voice a little to get his message across. His enthusiasm reminded me of a bad wedding DJ desperately trying to lure partygoers onto the dance floor.

The Lions struggled for much of the game against a scratch side featuring players from what is South Africa's second division - only a handful of these players had Super 14 experience, and limited experience at that.

A huge upset was on the cards with the Royal XV in control of the game deep into the second half but at no point did I think the Lions would lose - not sure why. Perhaps I have been exposed to too much Lions propaganda? The comeback was pretty clinical and at least highlighted some battling qualities that will be required throughout this tour.

The door was wide open for those aspiring to a Test berth but few took the opportunity. Fullback Lee Byrne, wing Shane Williams and lock Paul O'Connell were the pick of the bunch.

The post-match views and body language emphasised the disappointment with the quality of the performance rather than the relief at making a winning start.

And if the Lions needed a further reminder of the need to raise their game significantly in the coming weeks, the Bulls obliged with a sublime performance to sweep the Chiefs aside. The travelling journalists present gathered around TVs in the media room and jokes about the lack of tackling soon gave way to total respect. The fanatical Loftus Versfeld crowd made for a super-charged atmosphere which made our sideshow appear as just that. The second Test in Pretoria is guaranteed to be pretty special.

Make no mistake, South Africa are big favourites to exact revenge on the Lions for their series defeat 12 years ago. And the Bulls, packed with in-form Springboks, rammed that fact home with a clinical display including moments of brilliance. Du Preez, Habana, Steyn and co are likely to give McGeechan a few sleepless nights over the coming weeks.

Suitably impressed the gathered media boarded the bus back to Jo'burg - with apologies from officials for the earlier delays and a few crates of beer as a gesture of goodwill. And all was forgiven and forgotten - except the Lions performance that is.

Word reaches me that the Lions - or one in particular - made a splash at a diplomatic function in Johannesburg last night.

Sadly I was not in attendance but the story goes that tour manager Gerald Davies was speaking very well, as he always does, about what it means to be a Lion while many of his squad were lingering at the back by a swimming pool. A great big splash was then heard before most of the invited guests went to see what had happened.

And there, dragging himself out of the pool was a certain Brian O'Driscoll.

We are yet to clarify who pushed the Ireland captain into the pool but have requested a statement from the Lions.

Members of the British & Irish Lions squad continued a rich tradition leaving a legacy in South Africa as they opened a brand new sports pitch in the heart of the Orange Farm township in Johannesburg.

The pitch has been built at Masibambane College which is a school supported by Education Africa - a South African charity which has a long standing relationship with the Lions' principle sponsor HSBC. The pitch includes some turf from Ellis Park - the venue of the Lions final test match against South Africa on July 4.

Students from the school then initiated the pitch with a special TAG rugby match involving the British & Irish Lions players.

Speaking at the event tour manager Gerald Davies said, "Today is a special day and on behalf of the Lions players and management we are delighted to be able to attend and help with this fantastic legacy project. Spending time in the community is an integral part of any Lions Tour, and the players have really enjoyed spending time with the children here today."

We're off and running - rugby's last great adventure has another dedicated follower.

My flight touched down in Jo'burg safe and sound this morning and I emerged a little bleary-eyed to blue skies and warm sunshine. Bumped into Rugby World editor Paul Morgan and BBC Five Live's Ian Robertson and some immediate networking secured me a lift into the city with Stephan Weyers and Gerrie Swart from Essentially - which is one of the big players, if not the biggest, in rugby talent management.

Incredibly generous guys who were not only helpful in terms of their vehicle and advice but also offered to get me some access with the Boks they look after. A promise to meet again over a few beers saw us part and a swift check in at my hotel was followed by a trip up the road to the Sandton Convention Centre for the Lions team announcement.

A host of familiar faces gather for the press conference - the British & Irish press are here in good numbers and South Africa too are represented - including Die Burger's Stephen Nell who you will also recognise from the pages of Scrum.com.

A chuckle emanated from the press pack as the Lions branding fell off the front of the top table just as tour manager Gerald Davies began to speak - let's hope the wheels don't fall off this weekend.

It was all positive from the Lions triumvirate of Davies, Ian McGeechan and Paul O'Connell and there's no doubt the side they have picked is pretty formidable on paper - a big pack and some exciting backs. We've heard the word so much over the last few weeks - but will they 'gel'?

Soon it was time to get my bearings here in Sandton - one of the more pleasant areas of Jo'burg by all accounts. Many of the Lions were seen wandering around the huge shopping centre on our doorstep - they are staying up the road too - no fans to worry about but I'm sure that will change as we get nearer the Tests.

First surreal sight of the tour - Joe Worsely sat alone in one of the large function rooms at their swanky hotel playing a grand piano - he's quite good you know.

And while I remember - don't forget you can follow my updates - http://www.twitter.com/Graham_Jenkins and you can also check out the official ESPN Scrum Twitter site.

Ask most people in town and they will tell you that there is only one game of rugby that matters this weekend - the Bulls' Super 14 Final clash with the Chiefs in Pretoria.

The Bulls, featuring a host of Springboks such as Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and a few more-in-waiting including Morne Steyn, will be heavy favourites to claim their second Super Rugby crown in three years following their dramatic victory over the Sharks in 2007.

The Chiefs, in their first-ever final, not only face an in-form Bulls side but must also counter a vociferous Loftus Versfeld crowd and the effects of playing at altitude.

However, don't get me wrong - the Chiefs will pose a threat and will give the Bulls (and their Boks) are thorough work-out that will perhaps be more valuable than the their international counterparts will get against a Namibian XV on Friday.

The Lions game may even struggle for second-billing on a busy day of sport with the FA Cup Final clash between Chelsea and Everton also set to be a big draw.

Sources say that the 44,000 capacity Royal Bakofeng Stadium may only be half full for the Lions' tour opener with schools in the area set to benefit with a few free tickets.

The Lions have named a formidable looking line-up for their tour opener against a Royal XV in Rustenberg - but has head coach Ian McGeechan got it right?

After two weeks of preparation he will have a better idea than anyone as to what combinations are working in training but can you see this side making an impact?

An experienced forward pack, anchored by skipper Paul O'Connell, will surely dominate up front but a lot is being asked of the young centre pairing of Keith Earls and Jamie Roberts.

The entire squad were available for selection although the decision to rest the Leinster, Leicester and Northampton Lions for the opening two games following their European exploits cut down the talent pool.

The Lions will be odds-on to win but will they impress?

The Lions rolled out the welcome mat one last time at their five-star Surrey base on Sunday and the scene could not have been further from the brutal battle that surely awaits them against the Springboks in South Africa.

Tea and cucumber sandwiches on the terrace of the beautiful Pennyhill Park Hotel in leafy Bagshot - described as 'awesome' by Wales' Jamie Roberts - was the order of the day and as the class of 2009 tucked in (never has a tiny triangle of bread looked more inadequate than it did in the pincers of some of these giants) the gathered media did their best to squeeze one more preview piece out of those present.

As the players spoke of an intensive week of training, successful team bonding and sci-fi-like altitude training, classical music from a wedding reception floated down while guests looked on in amazement. Never before will a bride have been so upstaged but at least their day will live long in the memory.

The blazing sunshine and the cast of players are the only elements of this picturesque scene that will be repeated come the first Test in Durban in June 20. Pleasantries will be kept to a minimum on that occasion I can assure you.

Signs are that head coach Ian McGeechan's quest to forge winning partnerships both on and off the field is reaping reward. A smiling Roberts assured me that there was a buzz amongst the players while Dr James Robson, a veteran of four previous Lions tours, insisted this tour had got off to a superb start.

"They are a great bunch of boys," he told me. "I know we harp on about ’97 but it is very much like that. It’s just like one big rugby club, the spirit is superb. They are a good bunch and there is a lot of banter and I think you can measure the success and the relaxation of the squad by the amount of banter that’s going on."

There maybe some work to do if the country grouping of the players on the terrace was anything to go by - but it's early days I guess.