Fourie hopeful 'old Sanele' will make comeback
12/17/2024 07:22 AM
Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie believes Sanele Nohamba will rediscover his form after a difficult start to the season in the United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup.
Nohamba has started just two games in all competitions this season as the 2023-24 URC Player of the Year has struggled for game time after falling behind Springbok Morne van den Berg in the scrumhalf pecking order, and flyhalf duo Kade Wolhuter and Sam Francis.
“We all know the calibre of player Sanele Nohamba is,” Fourie said at a press conference on Tuesday. “Since his father passed away, it’s been a difficult time for him. We can all see with the way he has been on the field that he is not currently playing like the Sanele from last season.”
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Last season, Nohamba started 19 of 20 matches, scoring 135 points across the URC and Challenge Cup, splitting time at scrumhalf and flyhalf.
“We have to pick the best team every week. Those are the standards we set,” added Fourie. “He has been going through a very difficult time, we believe he can get through this and come out stronger in the end.
“The games that he has played, he hasn’t met our standards. We have lots of guys pushing for positions, and we want to pick the best quality XV for every match. He needs to get back to the old Sanele we know is there.”
The Lions face the Stormers in round 8 of the URC on Saturday, with the pride pulling out of a three-match slump with a 43-35 win over Pau at Ellis Park. Despite the win, Jaque Fourie is demanding more from his side in this week’s derby.
“The last few weeks have been disappointing with the amount of tries we have conceded against Leinster, Munster, Ospreys and Pau,” he said.
“Individual errors have cost us, especially our discipline. If you give the opposition penalty opportunities, they are going to kick for the corner and maul. It has been very disappointing, but this week we want to get back to how we started the season with a solid defense.
“It was important to get back to the Lions way with a win against Pau, we don't have any excuses for our losses in the previous couple of weeks.
“We are not going to stray from the way we want to play. We will run with the ball and play in the right areas of the field; nothing is going to change for us. Last year when we played against the Stormers there were glimpses of what we want to show in Cape Town on Saturday.”
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix
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