Lions name new Sharks recruit on the bench

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi has named his latest recruit, Sharks import Sanele Nohamba, on the bench for the Currie Cup Round 10 encounter with the Cheetahs at Ellis Park on Friday.

Although Nohamba has been in Johannesburg for a few weeks already, his signing was only formally confirmed by the Lions on Thursday.

The former Junior Springbok, who joined the Johannesburg-based outfit from the Sharks, will ply his trade at Ellis Park until 2024.

The young scrumhalf from Alice in the Eastern Cape, who boasts Currie Cup and United Rugby Championship experience, was a standout performer in the Springbok trial match in 2020, earning him a spot in the broader Springbok squad for the British and Irish Lions series last year.

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* Meanwhile the matchday 23 features a number of URC players.

In-form Jean-Pierre Smith `starts at loosehead prop, fresh from URC duty last weekend.

Jaco Visagie is at hooker, with Sibusiso Sangweni and the abrasive Emmanuel Tshituka, on the flanks, are also making appearances in the Currie Cup starting XV.

There is a new-look back three of Stean Pienaar, Boldwin Hansen and fullback Tiaan Swanepoel.

"We are expecting a tough game against the Cheetahs on Friday," Nkosi said.

"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.

Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 JManuel Rass, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner (captain), 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Cal Smid, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye , 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Jean-Pierre 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.

Date: Friday, May 6

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira, Hernus Coetzee

TMO: Quinton Immelman