Double Springbok boost for Lions

THE Lions have a double Springbok boost for their URC encounter with Benetton in the form of scrumhalf Morne van den Berg and prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The latter had a limited role off the bench in last week's narrow loss to Zebre, while Van den Berg was with the Springboks in London for the Rugby Championship finale against Argentina.

Ntlabakanye, who is dealing with a difficult issue off the field around a controversial allegation of a doping offence, will make a big difference as a starter in Treviso. The tighthead is a powerful scrummager, an aggressive tackler, and a strong ball carrier.

He was capped for the Springboks earlier this year, playing in the victory over Italy in Gqeberha and the loss to the Wallabies in Johannesburg, only to have his promising international career derailed by the allegation.