If the Boks win on Saturday, then the free ahead from the Free State can have his cake, and eat it.
South Africa’s Ox Nche smiled as he reeled off the desserts he had tasted throughout the Rugby World Cup in France following Saturday’s semi-final win over England.
“I’ve had the caramel salted cheesecake, triple chocolate and a decent toffee cake,” the loosehead prop mentioned gleefully after his key efficiency off the bench.
Sweet-toothed Nche, 28, got here on in the final half an hour of the sport, and his essential interventions at set items helped the Springboks into this Saturday’s historic final the place they face fellow three-time winners New Zealand.
Scrum energy
Of the six accomplished scrums throughout Nche’s time on the sector, the Boks claimed 4 penalties together with Handre Pollard’s match-winning shot at purpose that sealed the nail-biting 16-15 win.
“To put up a performance like he did last night, I think that is tremendous,” South Africa assistant coach Deon Davids mentioned on Sunday.
After his starring position in the England win, retailer Woolworths even provided Nche a 12 months’s provide of chocolate cake.
Things might have been completely different although as his World Cup was in doubt after he suffered a pectoral harm in the gymnasium in July.
The bearded Nche missed the Rugby Championship earlier than returning for pre-tournament warm-ups in opposition to Wales and New Zealand and has featured in all of the holders’ World Cup fixtures.
Baby Boks
Nche is named Ox, an ideal moniker if you examine his body-build to a heavy-set bullock, somewhat than his given title of Retshegofaditswe which implies ‘We are blessed’ in Tswana.
He grew up in a rural village between Bloemfontein and Lesotho and performed for the University of Free State and was half of South Africa’s Baby Boks set-up in 2015, serving to the facet to 3rd place in the world under-20s championship.
“I have been fortunate enough to coach him ever since I think he was 18 years old,” South Africa scrum coach Daan Human mentioned on Monday.
“He has made progress, I don’t assume now we have seen the very best of him but.
“I think from 28 to 32 as a front-row player that is when you are getting into your prime,” he added.
‘Count cake slices’
Nche, who weighs a muscle-packed 123kg (271 kilos), made his Test debut beneath Rassie Erasmus in 2018 and has gone on to make 27 appearances.
He has turn out to be a cult determine amongst South African followers because of his light-hearted character and love of sweet treats.
In April final 12 months he posted a photograph of himself consuming a chocolate cake with “Salads don’t win scrums” written on a blackboard.
He even has a clothes model promoting jumpers and t-shirts adorned with the motto.
“I don’t count calories, I count slices of cake,” Nche joked in August.
Off the sector, Nche’s sense of humour is appreciated by his fellow Springboks whereas his performances on it, particularly at scrum-time, haven’t gone unnoticed.
He has began simply two video games of the Springboks’ spectacular run to the final, however the softly spoken ahead has been key in head coach Jacques Nienaber’s sensible use of substitutes late in video games.
“Ox and the guys behind him have been special,” captain Siya Kolisi mentioned after the England win.
“We take pride in our scrums,” the emblematic flanker added.
If Nche continues his good kind and helps the Springboks to a document fourth Webb Ellis trophy with victory over the All Blacks on Saturday then the front-rower from the Free State can have his cake, and eat it.
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