Staff Reporter.
@GalloImages.
The former Sharks scrumhalf, Sanele Nohamba, will make his Lions debut on Friday night when they tackle the Toyota Cheetahs in Johannesburg in the Currie Cup.
The nippy halfback was officially unveiled as a Lions player on Thursday, although he has been at the union for quite some time.
Jaco Visagie, Emmanuel Tshituka, Andre Warner, Stean Pienaar, Fred Zeilinga, Manuel Rass and Tiaan Swanepoel will bring much needed expertise and level-headedness’ with a dash of wisdom, to a side that has lacked those characteristics in the Cup this season.
Make no mistake, the Sigma Lions side that runs out on Friday night at Emirates Airlie Park remains very much a young one, full of potential to be sure, but nonetheless vulnerable to a much more world weary Cheetahs side.
Nohamba will play off the bench and he will serve as cover for the captain,Warner.
The Lions are yet to claim victory in the Currie Cup, and are rooted to the foot of the competition’s standings. The Cheetahs, meanwhile, led by veterans Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn, will go top the log should they beat the Lions, overtaking the Bulls in the process for at least a day.
“We are expecting a tough game against the Cheetahs tomorrow night,” said Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi in the statement released by the union on Thursday.
“It’s the business end of the competition for them and in addition to that, they are the in-form team of the competition. The challenge for us is to step up against a quality outfit.”
“The theme this week for us was to reflect on our performance against the Griquas which we believe was a good showing but unfortunately lost it at the death. If we can draw positives from that game, I feel we’ll give ourselves a chance to display what we can achieve,” he concluded.
Sigma Lions Starting XV: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Manuel Rass, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Cal Smid, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Junior White, 20 Lindo Ncusane, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Luke Rossouw, 23 Ilunga Mukendi.