Read more about Rugby Union.
Players prepared for thinner air
Rugby Union, 14:35, June 26, 2009 ,
The British Lions have revealed that planning for the two matches to be played at altitude began two years ago on the gridiron.
The cream of the home nations are looking to bounce back at Loftus Versveld on Saturday following their 26-21 defeat to the Springboks in last Saturday's opening encounter.
Much has been made of playing the game in the rarefied Pretoria air and the Lions medical staff admitted that no stone has been left unturned as they sought out help to prepare the players for the very different prospect of playing at altitude.
Doctor Gary O'Driscoll explained the lengths that the medical team have gone to in order to prepare the players.
"We started looking into the altitude research two years ago," he said. "We have been to America, we have been in contact with the English Institute of Sport and the Australians with their Super 14 network.
"We had advice from the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have done previous training camps and tried to simulate conditions to make their American footballer more explosive.
"The medical science points to two options. The first one is to go to altitude and stay there for two weeks to allow your body to acclimatise.
"The other option is to play your event as quickly as you can to avoid the short-term effects, which start to manifest themselves after 36-48 hours.
"By spending two weeks earlier in the tour we know the players who struggle with the acclimatisation process. We have put those players on a hypoxic treatment protocol.
"By flying this afternoon and playing within 24 hours we avoid the short-term effects. We have managed it in an optimum way."