Ox Nche was unhappy as the Springboks let a strong start slip in their Rugby Championship opener. Source image: Hollywood Bets
(The Post News)- Springbok prop Ox Nche wore the disappointment on his face on Saturday night, much like the rest of his teammates, after South Africa fell 38-22 to the Wallabies in the opening round of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at Ellis Park.
It was a tough one to swallow. The Boks had raced into a 22-0 lead within the first 20 minutes, but Australia stormed back with six tries to three, flipping the game on its head. Nche admitted the defeat came down to costly mistakes and poor execution in the second half.
He explained that the halftime message was simple, keep to the plan, because it was working. But things unravelled after the break. The Wallabies struck with three quick tries, not off strong set pieces, but by reacting faster and taking every chance that came their way.
“They just looked sharper than us,” Nche reflected, adding that players drifted away from the team’s strategy at key moments.
Looking ahead to next weekend’s rematch in Cape Town, Nche stressed the need for extra work, sharper preparation, and better execution to get their campaign back on track.
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