{"id":29852,"date":"2025-09-19T13:44:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T11:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=29852"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:49:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:49:48","slug":"lions-vs-griquas-ntlabakanye-returns-for-currie-cup-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/lions-vs-griquas-ntlabakanye-returns-for-currie-cup-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Lions vs Griquas: Ntlabakanye Returns For Currie Cup Final After Drug Test Shock"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Lions will head into Saturday\u2019s Currie Cup final against Griquas at Ellis Park with a major boost. Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye returns to the action following a turbulent few weeks. The 26-year-old tighthead has been named vice-captain and will start in the No. 3 jersey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular skipper PJ Botha misses the clash after sustaining an injury in last week\u2019s semi-final against Boland, meaning fullback Quan Horn takes over the captaincy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coach Mziwakhe Nkosi confirmed that Ntlabakanye remains eligible to play despite his recent drug test shock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cHe has been charged, but not suspended, and as a contracted Lions player, he must play,\u201d Nkosi said on Thursday. \u201cHe\u2019s had time to process everything, prepare for his hearing in December, and now he\u2019s ready to lead from the front. We are all behind him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ntlabakanye-s-road-back\">Ntlabakanye\u2019s Road Back<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ntlabakanye made his Springbok debut earlier this year but was left out of the Rugby Championship squad. This is after testing positive for a non-performance-enhancing substance. The prop is believed to have ingested the banned drug through treatment prescribed for weight loss earlier in the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the setback, he has returned to full training over the past two weeks. He recently won the Players\u2019 Player of the Year award at the Lions\u2019 end-of-season function. This is a testament to the respect he commands among his teammates. He is also expected to tour with the Lions to Wales next week when the United Rugby Championship (URC) gets underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/asenathi-ntlabakanye-denies-doping\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u2018I Did Nothing Wrong\u2019: Asenathi Ntlabakanye Denies Doping After Positive Result<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3987408802\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lions-riding-momentum-into-the-final\">Lions Riding Momentum into the Final<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Nkosi says his team is approaching their second consecutive Currie Cup final with confidence. \u201cIt\u2019s special to reach back-to-back domestic finals for the first time since 2014 and 2015,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a strong build-up this week and confidence is high. Playing at Ellis Park adds another layer of motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Flyhalf Chris Smit echoed his coach\u2019s thoughts: \u201cThe semi-final against Boland was a big test because they\u2019d beaten us earlier in the competition. We were clinical, we built momentum, and we want to carry that into Saturday\u2019s final.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Lions head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi post match conference | Sanlam Boland, Carling Currie Cup Finals\" width=\"755\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aOKNjdEksVs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lions-final-xv-to-face-griquas\">Lions\u2019 Final XV to Face Griquas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Starting XV:<\/strong> 15 Quan Horn (captain), 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smit, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Franco Marais, 1 SJ Kotze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Replacements:<\/strong> 16 Morn\u00e9 Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Hashim Pead, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">These guys are ready to do it For our City tomorrow come 15:00.<br>\ud83c\udd9a Suzuki Griquas<br>\ud83d\uddd3: Sat, 20 Sep<br>\u23f0: 15:00<br>\ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gCpr0DkZjY\">https:\/\/t.co\/gCpr0DkZjY<\/a><br>\ud83c\udfdf: Ellis Park Stadium<br> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ForOurCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#ForOurCity<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LIOvGRI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#LIOvGRI<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CurrieCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#CurrieCup<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WhereChampionsRise?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#WhereChampionsRise<\/a> <br> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LionsPride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#LionsPride<\/a>\ud83e\udd81 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/k7tZS58A8S\">pic.twitter.com\/k7tZS58A8S<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LionsRugbyCo\/status\/1968966493791457327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 19, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/springboks-vs-australia-37-man-squad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Springboks vs Australia: Rassie Names 37-Man Squad with Fresh Faces<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-71905973\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lions-vs-griquas-ellis-park-set-for-a-fierce-battle\">Lions vs Griquas: Ellis Park Set for a Fierce Battle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With a passionate home crowd expected, the Lions will look to use the Ellis Park atmosphere to their advantage as they chase <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.co.za\/sport\/rugby\/currie-cup-final-ntlabakanye-back-action-lions-drugs-test-shock\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Currie Cup <\/a>glory. Ntlabakanye\u2019s return brings a mix of emotion and leadership to a squad hungry to lift silverware. The Griquas will be equally determined to spoil the party, setting the stage for a gripping clash that could go down to the wire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Lions will head into Saturday\u2019s Currie Cup final against Griquas at Ellis Park with a major boost. Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye returns to the action following a turbulent few weeks. The 26-year-old tighthead has been named vice-captain and will start in the No. 3 jersey. Regular skipper PJ Botha misses the clash after sustaining<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":29855,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"The Lions will head into Saturday\u2019s Currie Cup final against Griquas at Ellis Park with a major boost. Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye returns to the...","footnotes":""},"categories":[61,56,64],"tags":[10060,11108,415,873],"class_list":{"0":"post-29852","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"category-sports","9":"category-sports-news","10":"tag-currie-cup","11":"tag-latest-sports-news","12":"tag-sa-rugby","13":"tag-springboks"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29852"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29858,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29852\/revisions\/29858"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}