Bok victory overshadowed by Nché’s setback

THE Springboks’ dominant win over Japan came with a sting in the tail —a serious injury to star loosehead prop Ox Nché that threatens to derail Rassie Erasmus’ front-row plans for the rest of the tour.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

SPRINGBOK prop Ox Nché picked up a serious injury against Japan and is set to miss the rest of the year-end tour in a massive blow for the world champions.

(Backpagepix)

Nché was on crutches after the match, having hurt his ankle and knee in a tackle, according to Erasmus, who confirmed that the Boks’ scrum enforcer will likely not be available for the rest of the tour.

After the suspension of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Nché has become the second loosehead casualty for the team.

The 61-7 victory over Japan was as good an opening match as the world champions could have asked for ahead of facing France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.

It provided much-needed game time for players like utility forward Franco Mostert, loosehead Gerhard Steenekamp, and the other Japan-based players who hadn't featured since the Rugby Championship victory over Argentina.