With traditional powerhouse England still going through a long and painful regeneration under Martin Johnson, the squad is dominated by players from Ireland, winner of its first championship for 24 years and first Grand Slam since 1948, and Wales, last year's Grand Slam victor.
Although the Irish success was deserved and long overdue, the fact that it appears to be the strongest team in Europe reflects the lack of quality in the Lions squad due to play three tests against the Springboks.
The squad of 37 - 13 Welshmen, 11 Irish, nine English and four Scots - is even weaker since head coach Ian McGeechan named it five weeks ago.
Inspirational Wales centre Tom Shanklin was ruled out with a damaged shoulder that requires constructive surgery, Ireland flanker Alan Quinlan was suspended for gouging an opponent and countrymen Tomas O'Leary and Jerry Flannery dropped out with injuries.
Another Welshman, 20-year-old winger Leigh Halfpenny, has delayed flying to South Africa because of injury and James Hook has been summoned to back up kickers Ronan O'Gara and Stephen Jones and cover at first five-eighth and centre.
The South Africans are entitled to say that the replacements were not good enough to make the squad in the first place.
With no sign of injury-plagued Jonny Wilkinson, the mercurial Gavin Henson or the captains of England (Steve Borthwick) and Wales (Ryan Jones), northern hemisphere rugby appears to lack direction.
McGeechan chose lock Paul O'Connell as the Lions captain even though the only four times he has led Ireland were because Brian O'Driscoll was not available.
"In South Africa it's important to have that focal point in the forwards," McGeechan said.
"That's crucial to the dynamics of the Lions."
O'Connell will be seeking inspiration from past Lions triumphs over the Springboks, notably the 3-0 victory under countryman Willie John McBride in 1974 and the 2-1 victory in 1997 under Johnson, another of McGeechan's surprise choices as captain.
"When I look back at the Lions it's the team that's managed to bring the four teams together and have been successful that sticks in the mind," he said.
"Willie John McBride in '74 and Martin Johnson in '97 are the sides that I remember. It's not daunting. It's a tough challenge and an exciting one."
But the South Africans will be out to show O'Connell and his Lions that history does not win matches and that message should come over to the tourists tomorrow when they kick off against an invitational Royal VX at Phokeng to start their 10-game, five-week tour, which includes tests at Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
O'Connell will face arguably the best second row in international rugby in Bulls team-mates Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, who have been partners for almost a decade in a pack that is likely to bulldoze the Lions forwards in the tests.
Bryan Habana, the speedy winger who starred in the 2007 World Cup triumph, has been troubled by injuries and loss of form and could be under pressure from Jongi Nokwe, who scored four tries in a 53-8 crushing of Australia in Johannesburg last August.
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers will announce his squad on Tuesday and has named six uncapped players for a practice match against a Namibian side in Windhoek.
"From there we will begin to up our intensity in the build-up to the crucial first test in Durban," said De Villiers, who was concerned about injuries to fullback Conrad Jantjes and flanker Schalk Burger.
McGeechan, who will have Wales coach Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley as his assistants, may struggle to find the right players to compete with the South Africans at the breakdown.
But the Lions have powerful props, such as England's Andrew Sheridan and Gethin Jenkins of Wales, who could give the Springboks front row a tough time.
If McGeechan loses any of his front-line stars to injury, however, such as O'Driscoll, winger Shane Williams, flanker Martyn Williams or O'Connell, the Lions' chances of going home with another tour victory of South Africa look slim.
Lions in Sth Africa
Schedule of matches
> Sunday, May 31 v Royal XV at Phokeng
> Thursday, June 4 v Golden Lions at Johannesburg
> Sunday, June 7 v Cheetahs at Bloemfontein
> Thursday, June 11 v Sharks at Durban
> Sunday, June 14 v Western Province at Cape Town
> Thursday, June 18 v Coastal XV at Port Elizabeth
> Sunday, June 21 v South Africa, 1st test at Durban
> Thursday, June 25 v Emerging Springboks at Cape Town
> Sunday, June 28 v South Africa, 2nd test at Pretoria
> Sunday, July 5 v South Africa, 3rd test at Johannesburg
