Springbok prop Ox Nche is determined to make a strong comeback in what will mark his first Test of the year against Wales on Saturday in Cardiff after spending weeks on the sidelines with a torn pectoral muscle. And with only two matches to get into the best possible form before the Rugby World Cup, he is keen to hit the ground running.
Nche was named in the Boks’ opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Australia in Pretoria in July, which the Springboks won 43-12, but he was forced to withdraw days before the match after suffering the injury.
His hard work off the field and dedicated rehabilitation regime, however, saw him being selected for the Rugby World Cup squad, and the strong front-ranker cannot wait to pull the green and gold jersey over his head.
“I tore the muscle in the gym,” Nche explained. “But I’m excited to get a chance to play and I want to make a good impression. I plan to take each game in my stride and just do my best.”
Nche admitted that he had feared the worst at times during his time on the sidelines and said: “It crossed my mind a few times that I may not make the World Cup group because everyone was playing well and the team was progressing nicely. But I’m grateful to be here and I plan to give my best.”
He added: “When you have an injury, you have to work twice as hard as the other players so that you can prepare yourself for the collisions and demands of the game, so it’s good to be here.”
Nche admitted that it was a surreal feeling to be selected for his first World Cup, especially since he only took up rugby in Grade Seven and said: “I was an academic at school and played sport for fun. I didn’t take it seriously until I fell in love with rugby. But it just shows that anything is possible if you love something, work hard and put your mind to it.”
Nche expected a grind of a forward battle against the Welsh at the Principality Stadium and said: “Wales are pretty disruptive in the set pieces, and they try to lure the opposition into the way they want to scrum and maul. So, it’s going to be important for us to stick together and execute our plan.”
