Springbok prop Ox Nché is raring to go as South Africa prepare to face Scotland in Edinburgh in the second Test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour on Saturday, and he says the scrum battle will be a key area of the game.
Nché, who will pack down with Trevor Nyakane and Bongi Mbonambi in the starting front row in what will mark his eighth Test cap, expected a monstrous forward battle against the hosts, who come off a 15-13 victory against Australia last Sunday, and said his team-mates had to be ready to assert their dominance.
“This battle will be different to that which we faced against Wales,” said Nché.
“I’ve worked under Pieter de Villiers (Scotland scrum coach) at Under-20 and School level, and we saw how they performed against Australia. They certainly got rewards from their scrums and mauls.
“We are working on our preparation and we will see how we rise up to the challenge this weekend.”
The burly prop added that with the way the Springbok team operate - with a starting pack and a full replacement front row of Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch - was one of the strong points in their pack.
“With the way our team function, one has every chance to go full-out when you take the field, because you know the bomb squad will get on once your job is done.”
Commenting on former Vodacom Bulls prop Pierre Schoeman posing a threat in the Scottish pack, Nché said the fact that he is South African would not make a difference to the game.
“We do not see Pierre in their team as extra motivation,” said Nché.
“We have a goal and it’s about our pack and the physicality that we as South Africans pride ourselves in.
“The way we see it, we have a pack of South Africans and they have a pack of Scottish players.”
Despite Nché featuring regularly in the Springbok starting team this season, the strong loosehead said he had only one objective in the team.
“The way I like to play is to leave the jersey in a better place,” said Nché.
“Personally I’d like to use every opportunity I get, and make the most of it.”