The Lions have built a reputation for trusting youth, and Siba Mahashe is the latest product of that culture. The flanker — a former SA Schools captain who led Border at u13 Craven Week and hails from Hudson Park High, the same school as the Ndungane brothers — has slotted into senior rugby with minimal fuss and maximum impact. Seven URC appearances, four tries, and a leadership presence that has those close to him drawing comparisons to a young Siya Kolisi.
The piece points to last weekend's performance against Glasgow as the clearest illustration of what Mahashe brings: second-most tackles in the match, topping the dominant tackles chart, multiple carries, a try, and two try assists. The analytical thrust is straightforward — this isn't just a hot streak, it's a player whose trajectory has been pointing here for years. For Bok talent watchers, he's one to track closely.