Springboks have a new option at 9

5:08 pm, October 4, 2020

South Africa’s scrum half depth is bursting, especially after the performance of one of the country’s most promising players on Saturday, he writes Warren fortune. Sanele Nohamba, 21, seized her chance with both hands during the Springbok Showdown wrestler with a show of confidence in the victorious Green Team’s No. 9 jersey.

Standing 5’5 tall and weighing just 69kg, his serve from breakdowns was crisp and his kicking game was accurate and effective in open play.

Nohamba also showed glimpses of just how dangerous he can be with the ball in hand and his sleek grubber playing an important role in a penalty shootout for the green team in the first half.

The Sharks’ scrum-half clearly outpaced his opponent, Springbok scrum-half Herschel Jantjies, for long stretches while both were on the field.

However, Nohamba was also helped by a dominant group in the first half and the experienced Elton Jantjies.

“It was really good,” said Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who played with Nohamba on the green team on Saturday. “She’s got a lot of energy and one thing I like about her is that she’s not afraid to chat and she’s not afraid to take control.

“It was good to see him take control with guys like Elton helping him. He was confident, he had fun and it was very nice to play with him.

“He’s quick, he lets the ball go fast and it would have been nice to see how he did if we got to 22 a little more often because he’s quick at breakdown.

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– Balkie (@ Balkie02) October 4, 2020

“I’m sure we’ll see him more at the Currie Cup, where he will excel and be one of the leaders on the Sharks team.”

Kolisi also highlighted the value of interacting with the large number of players without a cap between the 50-man lineup in Cape Town, and more ‘young players’ who had spent the week with the teams.

“It was really special for all of us and for me personally to see the young people,” said Kolisi.

“I wanted to make sure the guys felt welcome and spent time sitting with them. It was special to see them perform tonight [Saturday].

“We are in a good place as South African rugby with our talents, but we are a long way off in terms of physical condition and preparation for matches from where we were in the World Cup.”