Ox driven to make props 'pass out'
02/05/2024 10:24
Springbok and Sharks loosehead prop Ox Nche says there is "nothing more satisfying" than watching a rival pop out of a scrum while asserting his dominance in the set piece.
Nche was called "the most destructive loosehead in the world" after his influential performance in the Boks' last-gasp Rugby World Cup semi-final victory over England last year.
The 28-year-old came off the bench to replace Steven Kitshoff early in the second half in Paris and had a huge impact in the scrum as the defending champions snatched a 16-15 win.
Rassie Erasmus is reportedly preparing to field Nche at tighthead in South Africa's opening Test of 2024 against Wales in June, and speaking in a wide-ranging interview with RugbyPass, the affable prop explains the nuances and technique of the front-row battle.
"Hit him as hard as you can," Nche said. "Get under his chest. Squeeze his ribs. The best feeling for the loosehead – and it has happened a few times at training – is when you squeeze a tighthead so hard they pass out for a few seconds.
"He shouldn't be able to get air. When he gets out, he should take a few moments and think, we are in for a long day.
"If you have him in a bad position and he decides to bail by popping up out of scrum, you know you're in his head. In the scrum I'm saying, 'he's gonna pop, he's gonna pop!' There is nothing more satisfying than doing that to a tighthead. You know you have given him something to think about.
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"Even if he's having a great game, now he's going to be thinking about that scrum. I'll always look in his eyes afterwards to see, that's where the doubt is."
Of the six completed scrums during Nche's time on the field against England, the Boks claimed four penalties including Handre Pollard's match-winning shot at goal that sealed the nail-biting win.
"It's all about breaking them. We say, in Afrikaans, the dam wall is going to break. Normally you won't get your reward from the first, second or third scrum, but it might come when the bench guys are on and you have worn them out," he explained.
"If Steven Kitshoff hadn't done his job, Dan Cole wouldn't have been tired, they wouldn't have had to put in Kyle Sinckler. It's death by a thousand cuts. Let's take them as low as we can, put lead in their legs.
"We go hard through the middle, on the hooker, and scrum as straight as we can. We knew they would try and take away our hit or wheel the scrum but if we stay honest and give the referee good pictures it should show our dominance.
"We'd done our individual analysis. Kyle, after the hit, has good shape and gets low and if you don't match him there you are in trouble. Vince Koch had analysed Ellis Genge who is a pretty strong guy. We brought all that together and made it work."
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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