Nohamba back at 10 for Lions

Last season’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Year, Sanele Nohamba, returns to the number 10 jersey this week as the Emirates Lions look to extend their unbeaten run against Italian side Zebre on Saturday.

Coach Ivan van Rooyen has made several changes for the Lions as he returns to a side that looks a lot more like last season’s regulars, with Richard Kriel back on the right wing after recovering from a shoulder injury.

In the midfield, Marius Louw, the regular captain, returns to the starting line-up and partners up with Henco van Wyk for the first time this season.

With Asenathi Ntlabakanye ruled out for concussion, his place is taken by Conraad van Vuuren, while Ruben Schoeman comes in for the injured Darrien-Lane Landsberg.

From the bench, tighthead prop RF Schoeman is in line to make his debut if he gets onto the field.

TEAM: Quan Horn; Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw, Edwill van der Merwe; Sanele Nohamba, Morne van den Berg; Francke Horn, Jarrod Cairns, JC Pretorius, Reinhard Nothnagel, Ruben Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Jaco Visagie, Juan Schoeman.

Replacements:  PJ Botha, Heiko Pohlmann, RF Schoeman, Ruan Delport, Renzo du Plessis, Nico Steyn, Erich Cronje, Rabz Maxwane