Lions gamble with Nohamba at No 10 for Scarlets match

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has picked an exciting if quite risky new half-back pairing for the team’s United Rugby Championship match against Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.

Regular scrumhalf, Sanele Nohamba, will wear the Lions No 10 jersey for the first time and his partner at scrumhalf will be Morne van den Berg.

The Lions are hunting a first win this URC season, after starting their campaign with three close defeats.
There are also other changes to the team that went down to Benetton last weekend.

Recent SA U-21 cup finalist Ruan Delport will play lock for the first time, in place of the injured Darrien Landsberg, while experienced prop Corne Fourie has been recalled to the starting team.

Bench cover

The rest of the side is pretty much as it was a week ago, with Marius Louw leading the team from centre.

Van Rooyen has picked only two back replacements on the bench, namely Jordan Hendrikse and Rynhardt Jonker.

JC Pretorius, who has lots of Sevens experience behind him, will likely cover for one or more of the backline positions should the need arise.

The Lions have also lost to Edinburgh and the Stormers this season.

Lions: Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw (capt), Edwill van der Merwe, Sanele Nohamba, Morne van den Berg, Francke Horn, Emmanuel Tshituka, Hanru Sirgel, Ruan Delport, Ruben Schoeman, Ruan Dreyer, PJ Botha, Corne Fourie. Bench: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Willem Alberts, Ruan Venter, JC Pretorius, Jordan Hendrikse, Rynhardt Jonker