Springboks Need to Crush Wallabies to Keep Rugby Championship Hopes Alive – Nché
Springbok prop Ox Nché may not be known for scaling mountains, but he’s used a mountaineer’s mindset to describe South Africa’s approach to defending their Rugby Championship crown. The Boks kick off their title defence at Ellis Park on Saturday, hosting the Wallabies in the first of two Tests on home soil, and the message from Nché is clear: slip up early, and the climb becomes far tougher.
Step-by-Step to the Summit
South Africa have never managed consecutive Rugby Championship triumphs, and Nché insists the journey must be approached with patience and precision.
“We’ve got the mentality of a climber,” Nché explained. “You don’t reach the top by staring at the peak; you take it step by step. If we don’t perform in these Australia games, the start to our climb will be shaky. But if we get it right, the confidence will grow and the path becomes smoother.”
The loosehead, who will earn his 42nd cap this weekend, says the Springboks are under no illusions about the challenge ahead. Rivals have improved significantly over the past year, making the task of retaining the trophy even harder.
Rivals on the Rise
Nché highlighted that all competing nations have matured and sharpened their skills. Argentina recently stunned the British and Irish Lions, Australia also toppled them, and New Zealand remain the benchmark.
“The bar has been raised,” he said. “We wouldn’t be in this competition if we weren’t aiming to win it. We’ll go in all guns blazing. The advantage we have is that our squad still has a core of experienced players alongside exciting young talent.”
Brutal Preparation Pays Off
Much of the Boks’ readiness comes from a punishing three-week training camp, which Nché jokingly described as “torturous”. With fitness coach Andy Edwards pushing the limits, the focus was on being in peak condition for the season ahead.
“We wanted to improve on last year,” Nché said. “The scoreboard is important, but we also had specific targets. Italy exposed us at the breakdown, so we’ve worked hard on that. The conditioning means we can now sustain high-intensity play, especially at altitude.”
Wallabies’ Evolution
While the Boks beat Australia twice away from home last year, Nché warns that the Wallabies have transformed since then.
“They’ve gelled a lot more,” he noted. “In the last Lions Tests, you could see their combinations coming together. They’ve now got cohesion, a balance between new faces and experienced players, and they’ll be fired up for this Test.”
Nché also points to a key change in Australia’s set-piece approach. “They’ve gone from avoiding the scrum to relishing it. Their lineout is strong too, winning most of their ball and competing aggressively. They’ve found the right mix in the forwards.”
A Scrum Battle to Watch
Nché’s direct battle will be against 148kg powerhouse Taniela Tupou, a formidable scrummager he knows well from Super Rugby and international clashes.
“Tupou is explosive and technically strong. We’ll have to be sharp,” Nché said. “The Wallabies are now more confrontational. If they match us at set-piece, they’ll try to impose their expansive style. They’ll be more up for this than ever.”
All Eyes on Ellis Park
With the Rugby Championship title defence starting on home turf, the stakes are high. The Wallabies arrive with renewed belief, while the Boks seek to set the tone for a campaign that could end in historic back-to-back glory.
For Nché, the mission is straightforward: take the climb one step at a time, but make sure the first step against Australia is a crushing one.
Related article: How to Win Tickets to the Springboks vs Wallabies Rugby Championship Opener
