SOUTH African Sweliwile Hanns says he is confident of defending his title against competitors from 15 other countries in the world sheep-shearing championships in Bloemontein on Saturday. Hanns, who uses hand-shears and has been a professional shearer since 1982, came third in the world championships in New Zealand in 1997 and won the title in London last year. He can strip 10 sheep in 15 minutes. “I’m not bothered by nerves,” Hanns told the Mail and Guardian. The competitors will be shearing close-wooled merinos. Points are deducted for cuts, and for cutting over the same area twice, which results in lower-value shorter fibres.