Springbok prop Ox Nché will return to the starting line-up when South Africa face New Zealand in the third Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Nché has been named at loosehead prop in Rassie Erasmus’ starting XV as the Springboks look to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.
The match will be played on Saturday, 5 September, with kick-off scheduled for 17:10.
The selection marks another important moment for Nché, who reached his 50th Springbok Test cap during the second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town on 29 August. He came off the bench in that match and helped the Springboks strengthen their scrum as they fought back to secure a 33-26 victory.
The 31-year-old, whose full name is Retshegofaditswe Nché, was born in Bloemfontein, Free State, on 23 July 1995. He stands at 1.76m and weighs around 119kg, and has established himself as one of South Africa’s premier loosehead props.
Nché made his Springbok debut against Wales in Washington, DC, in June 2018. He has now accumulated 50 Test appearances for South Africa.
Springboks level series after first-Test defeat
South Africa will go into Saturday’s encounter with renewed confidence after recovering from a disappointing opening Test.
The All Blacks won the first Test 33-16 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 22 August, taking an early 1-0 lead in the four-Test series. South Africa struggled to turn periods of possession and pressure into points, while New Zealand capitalised on the Springboks’ mistakes.
The Springboks responded emphatically in the second Test at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 29 August, winning 33-26 to level the series at 1-1.
South Africa produced a much-improved performance, using their powerful forwards, driving maul and physical defence to put the All Blacks under sustained pressure. Cheslin Kolbe was also outstanding with the boot, while tries from Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende and Siya Kolisi helped the Boks secure the victory.
Nché’s contribution from the bench was particularly important as the Springboks finished strongly at scrum time. His return to the starting XV for the third Test is therefore significant as Erasmus looks to establish dominance in the set pieces.
Erasmus makes four changes
Erasmus has made four changes to the starting XV for the Soweto encounter, with Nché, Wilco Louw and Malcolm Marx returning to the starting front row.
Cheslin Kolbe has also moved from wing to fullback following Damian Willemse’s injury, while Kurt-Lee Arendse comes into the starting XV on the right wing.
The Springboks’ starting team is:
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché.
With the series level at 1-1, Saturday’s Test is crucial. Victory would put either side one win away from claiming the inaugural four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series before the final encounter in Baltimore, United States, on 12 September.