11 November 2026
Springbok loosehead prop Ox Nché has urged South Africa’s forward pack to tighten their set-piece work before Friday’s Test against France. Speaking to the media in Paris on Tuesday, the 53-cap front-rower admitted the pack fell short of its usual standards during last weekend's win over Italy in Turin.
Despite the comfortable scoreboard in Italy, the Springbok forwards faced stiff resistance at scrum time. Nché acknowledged the unit lacked cohesion and let the hosts dictate terms early.
“Italy put a lot of pressure on us, and we have some work to do,” said the 53-cap loosehead from Paris. “We weren’t on the same page as a pack. They were definitely more determined than we were. We were a bit loose.”
Nche confirmed the squad has already identified the necessary technical fixes during training this week.
“We’ve got solutions, and we’ll work on them to get a performance that matches our standards,” he added.
He said they expect an even tougher examination at the Stade de France, pointing to the strong scrummaging culture in French club rugby. He noted that facing Les Bleus brings a level of intensity similar to a South African derby.
“In the Top 14, the French love their scrums,” he said. “The French team is a good example of how the game is played by all shapes and sizes. They’ve got guys who are really good at scrummaging, and they’ve been very consistent through the Six Nations and in the European competitions.”
“It feels very personal, especially for the guy opposite you,” he said.
France enters the fixture with several frontline players unavailable due to injury. However, Nché dismissed any suggestion that a depleted French squad makes South Africa's task easier.
“We don’t look at it any differently from last season,” he added. “They’re still very good players, they understand the system, and they’re looking to implement it and play their way.”
Nché also emphasised the importance of adjusting quickly to evolving referee interpretations at the breakdown and set-piece. Rather than getting frustrated by officiating trends, he believes proactive adaptation gives teams an edge.
“You want to be the first to adapt, the first to understand what referees want and what the law interpretations mean. It just makes things easier,” Nché explained.
“Instead of fighting it or looking at it negatively, you try to understand what’s needed from you and how you can add it to your game.”