Tommy Bowe accepts the British and Irish Lions face a huge challenge in their mission to sink the Springboks.

But Ireland's Grand Slam winner is content to see the tag of underdogs pinned on the tourists.

"South Africa are world champions - the Lions always seem to like to pick the world champions - so we've got our work cut out," admitted the Ospreys wing.

"But it is another challenge. When I moved from Ulster to the Ospreys it was a challenge, it was something different.

"And going into the Six Nations this season, we (Ireland) were kind of written off almost, and then we beat France in our first game.

"It is just something about those matches when you are written off a little bit or things are going against you."

Bowe is widely tipped to land a Lions Test place against South Africa in Durban on June 20.

He underlined a rich vein of form by scoring the decisive try during Ireland's Grand Slam-clinching victory over Wales this season, which took his tally to 10 in 23 Tests.

And Bowe could even form part of an all-Ospreys Lions back-three, should he gain Test selection alongside Wales full-back Lee Byrne and wing Shane Williams.