Rugby

Ox Nche: ‘Winning Challenge Cup final would be amazing reward for Sharks’

The workforce from Durban tackle England’s Gloucester on Friday night time in London for a shot at profitable a significant European cup final.

Sharks prop Ox Nche says it would be an “amazing reward” if his aspect have been capable of beat Gloucester Rugby in Friday’s Challenge Cup final in London to turn into South Africa’s first winner of a significant European knockout trophy.

The Sharks are in London getting ready for the final on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday, with kick-off set for 9pm.

While the Sharks will be with out key backline participant Lukhanyo Am, who’s injured, they’ll be capable of push a number of World Cup winners into the sphere, together with their complete entrance row of Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, and Vincent Kock, lock Eben Etzebeth, scrumhalf Grant Williams and wing Makazole Mapimpi.

Other key gamers embody former Sevens Bok winger Werner Kok, and three-cap Bok fullback, Aphelele Fassi. Then there’s new flyhalf sensation Siya Masuku, who had guided the Sharks into the final together with his pin-point correct goal-kicking and masterly play at No 10.

‘Amazing reward’

Nche is anticipating an enormous battle towards the lads from Gloucester, who’re chasing a 3rd Challenge Cup trophy.

“It is a serious game,” the burly World Cup-winning prop advised the EPCR Challenge Cup website.

“It is something we have never done as a union and it’s going to be a big challenge for us. But we could be the first team to win a European title, so for us it would be an amazing reward if we did it.”

Nche spoke concerning the take a look at that awaits at particularly scrum time the place he’s anticipated to go up towards Russian tighthead Kirill Gotovtsev, a former wrestler of some standing.

“The Gloucester scrum is going to be a big challenge, but it is one we are looking forward to,” mentioned Nche.
“They are not playing in the final because they got lucky. You can see the amount of hard work they put it.”

Hard work put in by coaches

Meanwhile, Sharks director of rugby Neil Powell mentioned qualifying for the final was a sign a vivid future lay forward for Sharks rugby, regardless of the Durban-based workforce battling to make an impression within the United Rugby Championship this season.

“As a coaching team and a squad, there has been a lot of hard work put in over the last eight to nine months and it is important to get that reward, a tap on the back and the confidence to start next season on a better note,” Powell advised the EPCR Challenge Cup web site.

“We need to put together 80 minutes of consistent rugby (this Friday) and be a lot more clinical. The guys know they have to go out there and make it happen. There is no team that will just roll over and give you success.”


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