The 1997 British and Irish Lions triumphed against all the odds in South Africa but no-one knows better than Martin Johnson how close they came to failure.

Experience has taught Johnson that when Paul O'Connell leads the Test team into Saturday's series opener in Durban, he must hope the Lions are still clinging on at the death.

The England team manager said: "As with any team when you're not favourites, especially in South Africa, if the Lions can stay with them until the final quarter or 15 minutes then there's all to play for. But that's where they'll need to be."

Tour captain in 1997, Johnson led a squad that was expected to be demolished by the reigning world champions. But far from overwhelmed at being universally written off, the tourists thrived on the siege mentality and stormed to a famous 2-1 series victory.

Fast forward 12 years and the Lions are once again heavy underdogs against the World Cup holders, but Johnson concedes that this time their task is made harder by the level of expectation.

"The pressure and the hype is so different now. The good thing about 1997 is that no-one gave us a prayer," he said.

"We had good support that came out with us but it felt like we were David against Goliath and that was a great place to be.

"In the UK there was so much expectation and media hype around the squad - there were pages in newspapers with stuff like 'what's this player had for breakfast'?

"It's great in a way but it's hard when you're a player. The Lions are still a special thing, even at a time when there are lots of Test matches. They still stand out."

Johnson added: "There are a lot of similarities between then and now but the game is very different these days. So far the Lions have done a pretty good job. They've won all their games. It hasn't always been easy, but then it never is. It wasn't in 1997."