Springbok prop Ox Nche said the team’s theme for the week in the set pieces ahead of their penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on Saturday was to “expect the unexpected” as they brace themselves for an epic encounter at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades in their penultimate match of the competition.
With the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title on the line, Nche said it would be special if they were to come away with a victory and snatch the title this weekend.
“It would really mean a lot to the team,” said Nche. “It would give more credit to what the squad has built up over the last few years.
“A lot of teams have a tendency to be inconsistent at times, but after winning the Rugby World Cup, we feel we are getting better and tighter as a unit, and winning the competition would amplify what we want to achieve as a team.”
Defeat for South Africa, however, would result in next week’s Test turning into a tournament final - the Boks currently hold an eight-point lead over Argentina on the standings.
“The theme for us when it comes to their set pieces is to expect the unexpected,” said Nche.
“They have certainly grown in their forward play, and they are trying new things in the lineouts, where they can play at the front and back, and they maul as well, so they are a well-rounded team. We know it’s going to be a massive challenge.”
“We’ve mentioned during the week in our team meetings, that if you come to Argentina, it’s pretty similar to South Africa. The only difference is probably the language,” Nche said. “It does feel like home."
“To play against a pack like Argentina’s, they have a lot of pride for their country. They play for their people, similar to us."
“The one thing is you have to make sure, if your opponent goes low, you go lower, if he goes lower, then you have to go lower than that. Whatever you think you are going to give, he is probably going to give back to you. Whatever you think you can take, he can take as well."
“For us, it’s about going blow for blow, making sure you’re the one that lands that first vital blow. You have to stand your ground and just keep going through the pain and the challenges.”
“Our theme is to expect the unexpected, they’ve grown their set-piece game, especially the lineout. They try new things."
“I think they are going to be a massive challenge. They can maul and play off the top, play around the front or the back of the lineout. So you can see that they have been putting a lot of work into their set pieces."
“In terms of the scrum, they have a lot of guys who have been playing at the highest level for quite some time. They have a lot of strengths and work really well together. They just all come together and are very consistent.”
“It’s going to be a very good challenge.”