Sizzling Nohamba knocking on Bok door: 'I can't have a big head now'

With the Springboks' game plan being built around their forward-dominant bench, utility players become worth their weight in (green and) gold. Sanele Nohamba's comfort in both pivot positions, along with his goalkicking ability and sizzling form have no doubt piqued Bok coach Rassie Erasmus' interest.  

The nippy No 9 has been switching between scrumhalf and flyhalf under budding cult hero coach Ivan van Rooyen and continues to be incredibly influential in the Lions' attack.

Nohamba was a regular at scrumhalf early on in the season, but with flyhalf Jordan Henrikse suffering a long-term injury, the Lions' brains trust needed a new strategy. Nohamba got a run at No 10 while the combative Morne van den Berg was brought in on his inside.

The move clearly paid off, as Nohamba has sparked the Lions' backline, taken over the kicking duties with aplomb and collected 95 points in Hendrikse's absence.

The diminutive utility back's form earned him a place in the first Springbok alignment camp of the year, but Nohamba is under no illusions as to the challenge that lies ahead to crack the Springbok squad. 

"I was speaking to my dad a couple of weeks ago and he was proud, but then I looked at it from a different perspective to say the only way that got me there is playing well here [at the Lions]," said the 25-year-old on the Behind the Ruck podcast.

"It's just alignment camps for the moment so you still have to come back and perform again, so that's what I was having a chat to my dad about.

"He [kept] saying he's proud of me and I was like 'thank you but I still need to go to the alignment camp'. I can't have a big head now. I have to come back again and work hard at the Lions, play good rugby and then it gives me a shot again to get an