Sublime Sanele Nohamba scores 24 points as Lions stun Bulls at Loftus

Lions scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba channelled the old Sharks form that brought him to national prominence after he scored 24 points to help his team stun the Bulls 29-25 at Loftus on Saturday.

Nohamba has certainly been through his ups and downs in his relatively young professional rugby career. He went from being a dead-certain Springbok to getting a call up with no Test cap before dropping so far down the pecking order he had to leave Durban to get game time in Johannesburg.

But before the wheels fell off for the 24-year-old, he was an all-action Energizer bunny that could pass, kick out of hand and for goal, which made him a prized asset, even as a Junior Springbok.

AS IT HAPPENED | Bulls v Lions

Now resurrected under Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen – who apparently isn’t getting a tune out of his players – Nohamba displayed all the qualities that had the country talking him up as a probable Springbok.

He was dashing, daring and distributed well to keep the Lions in good positions, especially in the first half. In the second, his two penalties were all the Lions needed to claim the win.

Nohamba scored a try, five penalties in total and converted both Lions tries for a near-flawless display.

After Morne Steyn and Nohamba traded penalties to start the game, Lions wing Edwill van der Merwe used his jet shoes to speed past Embrose Papier for the first try of the match before showing off his dancing shoes in the celebration.

The score left the Bulls somewhat stunned, like a boxer who survived a first round count to stagger back to their feet.

Nohamba, who was clearly up for the game, tapped quickly from a penalty while the Bulls looked bemused to score an easy second Lions try 24 minutes in. The Bulls looked like they were riding on