Ox: Boks like to ‘dominate physically’

The Boks need to stick to their strengths to deliver an accurate performance in all areas of their game for the full 80 minutes as they attempt to bounce back strongly against the All Blacks, according to Ox Nche.

The Springboks come off three defeats in a row – two by the Wallabies and one by the All Blacks – and in two of those matches, last-minute penalty goals had them finishing on the wrong end of the scoreboard.

Nche, who will earn his sixth Test cap when he packs down alongside Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane in the front row at the CBUS Super Stadium, however, said the team knew what they had to do to return to their winning ways.

“New Zealand will probably try to increase the tempo of the game and move the ball around.

“We have good set pieces, so they’ll try to put us under pressure there and increase the tempo to get the ball in and out as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t become too much of a contest there.

“They’ll also probably try to keep us away from our DNA which is the physical confrontation in attack, so it should be an interesting match.

“From our perspective, though, we are just going to keep doing what we do and play according to our strengths.

“If we can take them on up front, win the little battles, make our tackles and carry well at a good intensity throughout the match, we could put ourselves in a good position to finish the competition on a strong note.”

When quizzed about the main factors within the Springboks’ DNA, Nche said: “We are a physical team, and our strengths are our set pieces and defence. Those are the two main things for us.

“As a team we like to dominate physically, and we have been consistent in our set pieces, so we want to keep imposing ourselves there as a pack of forwards.”

The match between the Springboks and All Blacks, which kicks off at 12:05pm SA time, will bring down the curtain on the 2021 edition of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

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