Big Asenathi to state his case on the playing field in Currie Cup final against Griquas

The Lions’ Currie Cup final hopes have received a massive boost with the impressive form of prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who has chosen to put doping allegations aside and let his performance on the field speak for itself.

Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi confirmed on Wednesday that the big forward will not only start against Griquas on Saturday at Ellis Park but will also serve as vice captain, with Quan Horn skippering the team from fullback.

Springbok Ntlabakanye is embroiled in an unusual situation, having tested positive for a banned substance that is not performance-enhancing. The layman might ask, “So what is the problem?”

Nevertheless, he has been formally charged.

“Let us be straight. Asenathi will start for us this weekend,” Nkosi said.

“He has been charged but has not been suspended, so in the interim, he is a contracted player for the Lions and must play up until his hearing in December.

“We have had a chat with him,” Nkosi explained.

“He needed a couple of weeks to come to terms with what has happened and to put together the case he is going to present, but emotionally he is now in a good place. He will be the vice captain for the weekend.”

Nkosi added: “The cards will fall the way they fall, but we are behind Ase — from the chairman and CEO to the players. He is in the right emotional state to play after training with us for two weeks. It is right for us to play him with the URC tour coming up.”

A fortnight ago, the Lions beat Griquas 37-7 at Ellis Park in a Currie Cup pool game, but Nkosi says that game does not count as a dress rehearsal for the final.

“We beat Griquas, but it was not a comfortable win, all things being equal,” Nkosi said.

“What we take from it is that we had a plan for that fixture, and we can look at what worked and what didn’t. We will sharpen up on what didn’t and polish what did.”

By the same token, Griquas coach Pieter Bergh would have learned plenty from that defeat, and Nkosi expects them to be a stronger proposition.

“Pieter is crafty … They will sharpen up their ball retention; they will come hard off the line on defence; they will have a trick or two at lineout time, and maybe they will add more physicality in their selection.

“Ultimately, this final is the last chance saloon for Griquas in that their season has come to an end. They can throw the kitchen sink at us, knowing that there is no next week.”