Ox Nché’s scrummaging and impact for the Springboks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series has boosted his case for World Rugby Player of the Year.
Former England internationals Ben Youngs and Dan Cole, speaking on the For The Love Of Rugby podcast, discussed the loosehead prop’s influence, with Youngs applauding Nché’s set-piece and off-the-ball work during the 3-1 series win for South Africa.
Nché was nominated for the 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year award alongside teammates Pieter-Steph du Toit and eventual winner Malcolm Marx.
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It marked the 52-cap Nché’s first nomination and a historic moment, as he became the first prop shortlisted for the award since its introduction in 2001.
“One guy we’ve got to mention again when we talk about World Player of the Year – you’ve said Jordie Barrett there – obviously we’re on a campaign for Ox,” Youngs said.
“We’re on a campaign for a prop to win Player of the Year and Ox, once again, was just doing things: carrying, scrummaging, mauling, tackling, counter-rucking, hitting rucks, carrying – I’ve probably already said carrying.
“I think he did another pass at nine again; I’m pretty sure he did a lovely little pass again. No nine, no problems – Ox has got you.”
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Cole focused on how Nché fits into the wider pattern the Boks produced to beat New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore last week.
“The tempo they play with – you’ve got Ox, you’ve got your loosehead moving the ball. They’re not stagnant and waiting for a nine,” he added.
Cole also hailed the Boks’ breakdown dominance and physicality, which he believes other nations will need to find a way to counter.
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“New Zealand couldn’t really touch the Boks at the breakdown, which meant that when the ball’s on a plate it was just moved away, and there were lots of breaks around the fringes, just because the breakdown was so clean,” he noted.
“Teams are going to have to work out how to stop South Africa – whether you jackal, or because you might not win the collisions – but teams are going to have to do a better job at the breakdown if they’ve got any chance of taking on South Africa.”
Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post Ex-England stars on a campaign for Ox appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Ox Nché’s scrummaging and impact for the Springboks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series has boosted his case for World Rugby Player of the Year.
The post Ex-England stars on a campaign for Ox appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
