The Lions will have an ace in their pack for Saturday's tour opener in Johannesburg — after Jonny Hill revealed that a hole in one exactly a year ago ignited an upturn in his sporting fortunes.

Exeter’s England lock was named by Warren Gatland in the British and Irish side to take on rival Lions from Gauteng at Ellis Park.

Having been included in a powerful line-up led by club-mate Stuart Hogg, the 27-year-old reflected on a remarkable 12-month rise to prominence — which was launched in fine style, using a different sort of club.

Speaking after his selection was announced, Hill said: ‘This time last year — tomorrow actually — I got a hole in one in golf. It was my first one.

‘That was a good achievement and that’s where it all started really! It was at Exeter Golf and Country on a par five, 600 yards! No, it was actually a par three, 120 yards with a pitching wedge. I didn’t thin it, either, a nice bit of fade on it and it rolled in!’

He has barely looked back since, going on to win a Premiership and European Cup double with the Chiefs, before his Test debut for England and making enough of an impression on Gatland to earn inclusion in the head coach’s 37-man squad to tour South Africa.

But it’s not been an unbroken spell of success and satisfaction. There have been jolting setbacks along the way.

‘We went into the Six Nations and that definitely wasn’t plain sailing,’ said Hill.

‘I went in there with big plans and I remember driving home disappointed about how it had gone for me. So it was kind of about me coming back to my club, going back to basics and playing the way I want to play.’

His form was imperious over the last two months of the season and Exeter surged into another Premiership final, only to suffer an agonising defeat against Harlequins. Hill had to come to terms with the shattering outcome in a hurry.

‘It’s been a rollercoaster last couple of weeks,’ he said. ‘It was bitterly disappointing to come up short in the Premiership final.

‘I had to shake myself down that evening, wake up on Sunday morning and forget about it.

‘Then we flew out, landed here and I was told I was starting in the first game, against the (Johannesburg) Lions, so I was back on top of the world again. Now I have to make the most of my opportunity this weekend.’

While the Lions are operating in a restrictive Covid-19 bubble, Hill is enjoying any glimpses of the host nation and the contrasts with what he is used to at home. ‘It’s quite strict social distancing, but it’s nice to even drive around and see the scenery,’ he said.

‘You appreciate how different the world is. I’m a country boy from Shropshire surrounded by green fields and there’s not a blade of grass here. It’s all burned off! It’s crazy and different.’

The rookie international second row is relishing the chance to follow in the footsteps of such icons as Martin Johnson, Paul O’Connell and Alun Wyn Jones tomorrow, saying: ‘I’m honoured to be in the shirt they’ve worn.’

He declared that the visiting Lions are determined to make a statement up front about their ability to cope with South African forward might on this trip, saying: ‘We have spoken about setting a marker at the set-piece, then we can build on it into the Test matches.

‘It’s hugely important — they’re a side who have won big games from their set-piece so that’s a thing in these games they’re going to target and we need to target as well. I’ve no doubts whatsoever we’ve got enough fire-power to beat them.’

According to Hill, Hogg was ‘gutted’ to miss out on a starting place in the Premiership final, after being dropped the previous week, and he added: ‘He is a guy who’s been on two previous tours and he unfortunately hasn’t got a Test cap yet. I know that he’s trying to hunt that in the coming weeks.’

There will also be a focus on the 10-12 alliance of Finn Russell and Owen Farrell — with the England captain potentially more likely to secure a Test berth at centre, rather than at fly-half, where Dan Biggar is the early favourite to be chosen against the Springboks.

Meanwhile, the Lions-Sharks tour match at Ellis Park on Wednesday has been brought forward by an hour to start at 6pm UK time, to avoid a clash with a Euro 2020 semi-final that could involve England.