Given a rare start to impress the Springbok coaches, veteran tighthead prop Vincent Koch is champing at the bit to face Romania in the World Cup on Sunday.
He will join forces with skipper Bongi Mbonambi and loosehead prop Ox Nche in the front row for the world champions in Bordeaux, as one of 14 changes to the starting XV from a tournament-opening victory against Scotland last week.
A World Cup winner, Koch has started just 10 of his 46 Test appearances for South Africa, and the seasoned anchor can’t wait to test his mettle in a formidable Bok pack looking to build on their winning momentum.
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Speaking after the Bok team announcement on Wednesday, he told reporters: “We’re going to play the way we want to play. We want to get better. As South Africa we pride ourselves on set-pieces and we want to get stronger on that.”
On this being a chance to nail his place in the team going forward, Koch added: “For all of us it’s an opportunity. We are representing the Springboks. You want to deliver a performance that is best for the team.
“If that is good enough the coaches will select the best players for the next game. We want to contribute and make the country proud.”
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SA and Romania’s only previous meeting came in the 1995 World Cup, which the Boks won 21-8 in Cape Town, and Koch expects a physical battle upfront from the Oaks.
“I don’t really know much about them but of course we’ve been analysing them this week,” he said. “We saw [against Ireland] they have a decent forward pack, they play with passion and they want to make their people back home very proud.
“I thought their forwards did really well against Ireland. They stole a few lineouts and the scrum was decent as well.
“We are looking forward to a nice physical battle against them, and of course their backs can do whatever they want.”
Photo: EPA/James Ross