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There have been 11 teams from the Four Home Unions who have toured South Africa. Not one has been whitewashed. One did the whitewashing - just one. Now on the eve of the third Test in 2009 there is talk of a whitewash.

History tells you that it will not happen.

In 1938 the Lions were well beaten in the first two Tests but won the third. In 1980, the Lions were beaten in the first three Tests but won the fourth. The first Lions, those of 1924, avoided a whitewash with a draw in the second Test. In 1962 and 1968 the Lions also managed draws.

If a whitewash means winning all the Tests in a series (more than one Test) South Africa has whitewashed in South Africa the All Blacks, the Wallabies, France, the Jaguars (twice), England (twice), Ireland (three times), Wales (twice), Scotland (twice and Italy but not the Lions.

The only time South Africa has been whitewashed in a home series was in 1891 when the missionary touring team, called the English Team but now referred to as the Lions, won the series 3-0 without conceding a single point.

In 1896 the fun Lions of 1896 won the first three Tests and then lost the fourth.

The peacemakers of 1903 drew the first two and then lost the third to lose the series.

The grumpy Lions of 1910 won the middle of three Tests.

The first Lions - in the sense that the 1924 team were the first to be called the Lions - lost the series but drew the middle Test.

The 1938 Lions came with great expectations but were well beaten in the first two Tests but won the third 21-16 in a splendid match at Newlands.

The romantic Lions of 1955, the most loved of all touring teams to South Africa, drew the series two-all when South Africa needed to win the fourth Test to draw,

 The ordinary Lions of 1962 drew the first Test, were unlucky to lose the second and then lost the last two.
 
 The 1968 had players of great potential - Barry John, Gareth Edwards, Mike Gibson, Tom Kiernan. Sid Millar and Willie-John amongst them amongst them, but the best they managed was a 6-all draw in the first Test, two penalties apiece.
 
 Then came the invincibles of 1974, the most powerful Lions of all. They won the first three Tests but drew the last 13-all when the Lions were cross with referee Max Baise for not awarding a try and the Springboks were cross with him for awarding one.
 
 The brave Lions of 1980 showed the pride which can exist. Beaten in the first three Tests they marched on Pretoria and won.
 
 The next Lions were the lucky ones of 1997. The Springboks scored nine tries to three and lost the series 2-1 for want of a kicker.
 
 Will the Lions of 2009 be the first whitewashed Lions/
 
 One wonders how they will be described. We have had the missionaries, the fun Lions, the peacemakers, the grumpy Lions, the first Lions, the expectant Lions, the romantic Lions, the unlucky Lions, the underachievers, the brave Lions of 1980 and the lucky Lions. How will the 2009 Lions be known?