Prop Ox Nche all but confirms his move to the wing
While South Africa fans debate who should start on the wing for the Springboks out of the likes of Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sbu Nkosi, Aphelele Fassi etc. everyone has forgotten to include Ox Nche on that list.
But the Sharks loosehead showed his credentials for playing on the wing at the weekend against Edinburgh at the DAM Health Stadium. In his side’s 22-19 win, the Springbok prop lit up the first half with a rampaging run. This run saw him swat scrum-half Ben Vellacott away before outpacing No8 Bill Mata and passing back inside to his scrum-half Grant Williams.
If it were not for the No1 on his back, and perhaps his 114kg frame, you would be forgiven for thinking he was a winger.
Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair said after the loss: “It was really frustrating. I said how proud I am to coach the guys, they put it all out there. We weren’t accurate enough but I can’t question the commitment to what we are to do.
“Had we won that in the end that would have been one of the best Edinburgh victories we have had. We came up short but we have just got to get a little bit better.”
Take a look at the run:
From prop to winger, #91 of the URC Top 100 Ox Nché unleashes the @SharksRugby gas 💨 @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/VQ7XFqAzZf
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) January 31, 2023
Edinburgh Rugby: Henry Immelman, Wes Goosen, Mark Bennett (CAPT), James Lang, Jack Blain, Charlie Savala, Ben Vellacott, Boan Venter, Adam McBurney, Murray McCallum, Marshall Sykes, Glen Young, Nick Haining, Hamish Watson, Viliame Mata
Replacements: Dave Cherry, Luan de Bruin, Lee-Roy Atalifo, Jamie Hodgson, Ben Muncaster, Charlie Shiel, Jaco van der Walt, Cammy Hutchison
Cell C Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Marnus Potgieter, Francois Venter, Ben Tapuai, Thaakir Abrahams, Curwin Bosch, Grant Williams, Ox Nche, Kerron van Vuuren, Thomas du Toit, Hyron Andrews, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter, Henco Venter, Phepsi Buthelezi (CAPT)
Replacements: Dan Jooste, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Carlü Sadie, Reniel Hugo, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Cameron Wright, Lionel Cronje, Yaw Penxe
