VIDEO: The reason behind Nohamba's slump in form

Six months ago Sanele Nohamba was riding the crest of the wave - fresh from being invited to a Springbok alignment camp (in March), along with an award as South Africa's United Rugby Championship Player of the Tournament and the Lions' Player of the Year.

However, now the 25-year-old utility back is not just struggling for form but also to get game time at the Ellis Park-based team.

Recent media reports - linking him to a potential move to Japan at the end of the season - suggested being snubbed by the Bok coaching staff was at the heart of the player's decline.

In the first two rounds of the Challenge Cup this month Nohamba's declining influence on the team was evident.

For the opening-round loss (14-30) to Ospreys in Llanelli he came off the bench for the last half-hour and made no positive impact.

It was the kind of performance that saw him fail to make the matchday squad for the Round Two (43-35) win over Section Paloise at Ellis Park this past weekend.

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Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie admitted form (or rather lack of it) was a contributing factor.

However, he suggested the death of his father, Eric Nohamba, a prominent farmer in the Eastern Cape, may be behind the slide in form.

"We all know the calibre of player Sanele [Nohamba] is," Fourie said, adding: "Since his father died, it has been a very difficult time for Sanele and how he has been dealing with it.

"We all can see the way he has been playing that he is not the Sanele of last season."

Fourie added that the Lions always select the 'best' team for each match.

(WATCH as Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie opens up about slump in form utility back Sanele Nohamba....)

"We decide what is best for the team.

"He [Nohamba] did go through a very difficult time and hopefully he can get through that [personal challenge] and come out stronger."

Springbok Morne van den Berg - who played in two Tests for the Boks this year and ahead of Nohamba in the Lions' No.9 pecking order - will again feature when the Johannesburg franchise travels to Cape Town for a URC Round Eight derby with the Stormers.

Nico Steyn, who captained the team against Ospreys and played off the bench against Section Paloise, could again get the nod ahead of Nohaba for the trip to Cape Town.

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@rugby365com

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