Lions Tests in South Africa

[Mampara]

I read in the press that the Springboks are 4/11 favourites to win the first test this Saturday and the test series.
Surely the Lions who have the very best players from 4 countries should beat a single country. I know the Boks are World Champions but that was one country versus another and not an elite team like the Lions.
They say the bookies are never wrong but where is the logic in this?

[Davethedog]

The logic is as follows:

South Africa are probably better than any of the four nations including Ireland (who slammed this year)

The Soujth Aficans play together as a team all the time - The Lions have only played as a team for four weeks and then never the same 15.

S.A are at home. Bookies will nearly always give the home team advantage and a number of players that may have started for the Lions are injured.

The Lions are nearly always the underdogs as they only play away to teams in the southern hemisphere, who are traditionaly strong.

[Mampara]

Thank you for a very good and comprehensive answer.

I would just say that, as I understand it, the Boks have neither played together of individually for their provinces for over a month.
The Lions has been playing continually , albeit with different combinations, for three weeks and have won all their matches ( scraped home in a couple)
Both teams have suffered injuries - Burger for example won't play.

While South Africa is clearly stronger than each home nation I thought that the cream of 4 teams should beat one.
If a Southern Hemisphere team comprising the best players from NZ.,Australia, South Africa & Argentina were picked surely they would beat any single home nation team even with home advantage.

[R1Geezer]

what a tit! ok on that basis China/India has a billion people so they should be able to thrash anyone in the world with that many to pick from. Go back to watching tiddly winks mate.