This is the final "midweek game" for the men from New Zealand.
Francke Horn will captain the Lions in their tour match against the All Blacks on Tuesday. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
On Tuesday night at Ellis Park, Lions captain Francke Horn will follow in the footsteps of his father, Francois, as a provincial player to face the touring All Blacks rugby team.
The younger Horn has been captain of the Lions for some time now and on Tuesday he’ll lead his side out against the tourists in what will be their final “midweek” match against the South African United Rugby Championship teams.
The All Blacks have so far beaten the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls. They also won the first Test against the Springboks, also at Ellis Park, last Saturday.
On Monday Horn revealed his dad, Francois, faced the All Blacks on their last full tour of South Africa in 1996.
On that occasion the New Zealanders played three Tests against the Boks and also faced a Boland Invitation XV in Worcester in their first match on tour, Eastern Province in Gqeberha, Western Transvaal in Potchefstroom and Griquas in Kimberley.
Against Boland XV
Horn’s father, a regular fullback, played for the Boland Invitation XV in the first match of the tour, on 6 August 1996.
“This match is quite special for me,” said the younger Horn on Monday about Tuesday’s game at Ellis Park, “because my dad played against the All Blacks in 1996, for Boland in Worcester.
“It’s special that I’m able to also do it 30 years later.
“My dad tells the story he played the match with a big black shiner, that he got in the previous game. He converted all three tries Boland scored that day so he was happy.
“Apparently it was quite a close game until the All Blacks scored at the end.”
The final score in Worcester that day was 32-21 to the tourists.
Tuesday’s tour match at Ellis Park kicks off at 7pm.
