Alternate.

The British and Irish Lions are open to potentially playing Georgia this weekend if their game against the Bulls is called off and the Springboks are unable to fulfil their fixture against them on Friday.

The game against the Bulls is now up in the air with a number of COVID-19 cases within their squad according to reports in South Africa, while the Springboks are now in quarantine after training was cancelled yesterday over a positive case in their camp.

It’s a purely hypothetical at this stage but the idea does make a lot of sense. The Lions will not want to lose out on a game and with Georgia already in South Africa preparing for a Test match, the pair playing each other could be a win-win.

Georgia would also provide the Lions with a sterner test given they’re a full-fledged international side. Assistant coach Steve Tandy said they are still waiting to see how things play out but they would rather play a game than not play a game this weekend.

“I think anything is possible through COVID, I think we’ve seen that,” Tandy told us.

“For me, if there’s any opportunity if a game’s called off to play then that would be great for us and for whoever else is looking for a game.”