The words stumbled grittily from the lips of Shaun Edwards.

"We have to win the collisions. Trying to stop 20-stone, 6ft 5ins forwards who can run like wingers will be a tough job. But that's what we've got to do."

In a nutshell Edwards had identified the daunting task facing the British Lions on the tour of South Africa.

The Australians are renowned for their dynamic three-quarters and the All Blacks for their all-round cohesion.

But South Africa, the world champions, are best known for the weight of their hammers.

Such as 6ft 6in Victor Matfield, 6ft 4ins, 17st 3lbs flanker Schalk Burger and John Smit who clocks in at 6ft 2ins and 18st 4lbs, which is one solid lump of hooker.

Any sign of weakness from the Lions will be severely examined by the might of the most savage pack in rugby.

So do the lions have a chance of redeeming their reputation following the 3-0 thrashing suffered by Sir Clive Woodward's ill-fated tourists in New Zealand four years ago?

Do they have the physical power and the mental toughness to prove a hybrid tour can be competitive and that the Lions are not one of sport's anachronisms?

They are not easy questions to answer, especially following a distinctly average Six Nations championship in which caution and pedantic rugby was preferred to adventure.

The Lions, who have just eight weeks to hone themselves into a Test team capable of beating a World Cup-winning side which has been together five years or more, must break out of that mindset.

Yet there are reasons for guarded optimism.

One is the appointment of Ireland's Paul O'Connell as captain. He is a man of huge presence and no little obsession when it comes to winning on a sports field. A second row who leads by striking example, just as Martin Johnson did when the Lions beat South Africa back in 1997.

The Test team could well be packed with Irish and Welsh stars such as David Wallace at number eight, flying Welsh flanker Martyn Williams, the impressive Gethin Jenkins at prop, Ireland's Tommy Bowe on the wing and Wales's Lee Byrne at full-back.

Former captain Brian O'Driscoll, who lasted just 42 minutes on the last tour before being carried off following an infamous New Zealand spear tackle, will make it his mission to fulfil his role as the tourists' talisman.

When you list those names there is no lack of talent, especially when the key fly-half role will be filled by either Ireland's Ronan O'Gara or more likely Stephen Jones.

Whoever, the Lions should be guaranteed an accomplished play-maker and goal-kicker.

It is all likely to hinge on whether the Lions can ride the storms which are bound to come their way when South Africa call for those extra bursts of searing effort and energy which typify their game.

What we can be reasonably certain about, however, is that this tour will not go down the embarrassing paths which categorised the Woodward regime four years ago.

With 37 players in the initial squad, it was less bloated than the near 50 under Woodward. Head coach Ian McGeechan is renowned for his inclusivity and every man, on test duty or otherwise, is likely to feel he has an input into the whole.

There will be no calls for press officers to give motivational talks to the players, as happened with former spin doctor Alastair Campbell last time.

There will be every call for each man to shed buckets of sweat and no doubt pints of blood on occasions, especially when it comes to defending the line which, if breached, Edwards will take as a personal affront.

The tour is also guaranteed dignified leadership and a sense of respect, if only because tour manager Gerald Davies, the former Welsh wing legend, could operate in no other fashion.

That is why, when Test battle commences in Durban, Pretoria and finally Johannesburg, we can expect a Lions side, which has lost its last five Tests, to give total commitment.

Will it be enough? It is doubtful because the South Africans beat the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2008 and they are the most intimidating side in world rugby in their own backyard.

But if a series victory proves beyond the Lions then at least they must deliver a return to traditional values and redemption from the shame of recent tours.

The very future of the Lions ethos is at stake. And that is a collision where losing is not an option.