Ox Nché is ready for an epic scrum battle with Springbok teammate Wilco Louw in Cape Town on Saturday. SIMON BORCHARDT reports.
The Sharks go into the round-three URC coastal derby at the top of the log after bonus-point wins against the Ospreys and Leinster at Kings Park, while the Stormers return home having beaten Connacht before losing to Edinburgh on their two-match European tour.
Coach JP Pietersen welcomed back several of the Sharks’ Springboks last week, with Nché coming off the bench in the 54th minute to help the hosts dominate defending champions Leinster at scrum time.
John Dobson’s Stormers will be boosted by the return of their own Bok contingent this week, including tighthead prop Louw, who is set to make his first appearance for the Cape side since returning from the Bulls.
That could see the two Bok heavyweights go head to head.
“It’s always exciting when you go up against guys who you play with,” Nché said on Tuesday.
“It’s a great challenge to play against them, but I honestly don’t see it as a me thing. It’s more about what we can do as a pack, how well we prepare together.”
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Nché said the Sharks had been pleasantly surprised by how well things had gone up front against Leinster.
“We prepare to be dominant in our set-pieces, and we felt that our scrum could put pressure on them, disrupt them a bit,” he said.
“We didn’t expect to do that well, because the [referee’s] calls could go 50-50. It did make a big difference because you can win 30 to 40m if you get a penalty from a scrum. It just gives the team momentum and we can play in the opposition half and put pressure on them.”
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The 31-year-old believes the Sharks are also beginning to establish a clear identity under Pietersen.
“It’s been a pretty big focus for us to be physical, fast and relentless,” Nché said. “We’re not trying to just use it as words or a catchphrase. We actually want to be able to apply it, and it should be evident.
“If you’re watching us, you should have an idea what the DNA of the team is. We’re really trying our best to show that and get the DNA of the team across, so people don’t just hear it, but actually see it.”
WATCH: Boks take Sharks coast to coast
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
The post Ox excited by Wilco challenge appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Ox Nché is ready for an epic scrum battle with Springbok teammate Wilco Louw in Cape Town on Saturday.
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