Munster coach in awe of Bulls and Lions' power and size: 'It's unfair'

Whether he's simply creating some hype or genuinely in awe is a moot point, but Munster assistant coach Graham Rowntree highlighted the sheer size of the Lions and Bulls packs they'll be facing on their South African tour in the United Rugby Championship starting next week.

A powerful former England prop himself, the 50-year-old, in fact, stated that the local game's abundance of imposing physical specimens borders on being "unfair".

"Watch the Lions games and see the size of their squad. It's not fair. It's not fair," Rowntree told Irish broadcaster RTE.

"They're huge men, and that's a real strength of their game, the Lions. So that's what we've got to deal with in the Lions game."The Bulls, physical breakdown. They have a physical backrow. Big men running at you very quickly on the Highveld. It's a bit of a different challenge from what we're normally used to but it's a challenge we'll be ready for."But we just train for it. We've done it before."

READ | 'White v Van Graan' spices poignant Bulls-Munster meeting

The Lions' first-choice front row of Sti Sithole, Jaco Visagie and Carlu Sadie have indeed been an impressive unit, particularly at scrum time, while the Bulls' loose trio of Marcell Coetzee, Arno Botha and Elrigh Louw have oozed punching power.

More importantly, Rowntree warned his charges that both Gauteng franchises will be far more competitive on their home-grounds than their log positions - the Bulls are 11th and Lions 14th - currently reflect.

"I've no doubt that at home they'll be good against us," he said."They'll be waiting for us. There will be some great places for our guys to go and challenge themselves, playing rugby against some top teams in some top stadiums in a great country."It's a country I've been