Nohamba gets pivotal role for Bulls showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team for their Uniited Rugby Championship Round Nine catch-up match against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
There are four changes to the starting XV that suffered a 28-38 defeat to the Ospreys in the Challenge Cup last weekend.
In the backline, Sanele Nohamba gets the No.10 jersey this week after starting at scrumhalf against the Welsh side.
With Nohamba shifting out to flyhalf, Morne van den Berg comes in to take over the No.9 jersey.
Gianni Lombard drops out of the matchday squad.
In the pack, Hanru Sirgel joins the back row in the No.6 jersey and the final change is in the front row with Jaco Visagie taking over from PJ Botha.
Van Rooyen has opted for a six-two bench split with Jordan Hendrikse returning to provide cover,
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Hanru Sirgel, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Morgan Naudé, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Erich Cronje.
Date: Saturday, January 27
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Morne Ferriera (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
