Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Ox Nche should return to South Africa following their 61-07 win over Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening. The loosehead will undergo assessment ahead of next week’s Test against France in Paris.
Nche left the field of play after just twenty minutes of play in the first half and was replaced by Gerhard Steenekamp, who himself had just returned from injury.
“It’s serious, I don’t think he will play for the rest of the tour. Unfortunately, in the tackle situation, he hurt his ankle and his knees. He is on crutches; I don’t think we will have him for the rest of the tour.”
“We are planning to replace him. We’ve got Boan Venter and Gerhard Steenekamp, who played really well, then Thomas du Toit is back, and then we have Wilco Louw and Zach Porthern.”
“But if another loosehead goes down in the week, we are in a bit of trouble, so we will probably get Asenathi Ntlabakanye in, but I do need to talk to the selectors first. But thinking about it right now, Asenathi will come in, and then Thomas will swing between tighthead and loosehead for us.
“I just need to get the go-ahead from the selectors, but that’s where our heads are currently.”