Lions star Sanele Nohamba is in the form of a lifetime and his performances will attract the attention of Springbok coaches
A product of Alice in the Eastern Cape, Nohamba burst onto the senior rugby scene as a feisty scrum-half blessed with a strong kicking game.
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Weighing around 75kg and only 1.64m tall, Nohamba's physique seemed suited for a scrumhalf, and he played there from school to junior level.
However, the 25-year-old (who celebrated his birthday in early January) has interestingly moved to fly-half this season, which has been an incredible benefit.
Nohamba is one of South Africa's standout players and has really shined for the Lions since he was just 10 years old. He also impressed with his accurate goal-kicking, which has always been a hallmark of his game.
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Could Sanele Nohamba be on the Springboks' radar?
Just this past weekend, he was a force of energy again against the Bulls and almost led to a stunning victory in the Jukskei derby.
With Nohamba showing such stability and confidence, there is no doubt that he will catch the attention of Springbok coaches. But the question is where will the Springbok coach accept him?
It would be a huge ask for the Springbok management to consider Nohamba as a Test fly-half, as he only recently moved to the position permanently. His size could also be an issue in the more physical Test matches.
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However, national coaches may be interested in using him as a scrum-half, especially after Faf de Klerk's recent serious injury. However, with the likes of Jaden Hendricks, Grant Williams and Kobus Reinach all in the World Cup squad, scrumhalf is certainly a position they can cover well.
That said, Springbok coaches may see his X-factor and ability to cover multiple positions as a notable attraction.
Only time will tell, but with a one-off test against Portugal later this year, this could be the perfect time to give Nohamba a chance.
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The 2024 home test schedule is as follows:
6 July: SA v Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
13 July: SA v Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
July 20: SA vs Portugal (Bloemfontein Toyota Stadium)
August 31: SA vs. New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
7 September: SA vs New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
28 September: SA vs Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
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