The cut above Springbok loosehead prop Ox Nche’s knee has forced him to withdraw from Saturday’s test against Wales at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, forcing a rejig in the front row.
Nche, who missed out on a deserved nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year on Wednesday, was in doubt for the Welsh test before the Boks surprised and named him in the starting line-up.
His withdrawal means that Thomas du Toit, who can play both sides of the scrum, will move to loosehead and Wilco Louw, who played against England last week in his first return to the Bok starting line-up in years, will move into the tighthead role.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Ox Nche has been withdrawn from the squad to face Wales in Saturday's #AutumnNationsSeries match 🚨
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) November 20, 2024
Thomas du Toit moves to loosehead with Wilco Louw brought in at tighthead. No changes to the bench 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/wzgy5lSHVB
Officially the line is that the Boks decided to “rest” Nche.
“Ox has been a key player for us this season and, given his high work-rate over the last few months, we opted to rest him for this clash,” said Erasmus.
“Wilco started last week’s match, and he’s been training well this week, so it makes sense to include him in the starting team and move Thomas to loosehead prop.
“It also maintains the consistency we have in the front row among the replacements.”
Erasmus also revealed that four players who were not included in the matchday squad would return home on Wednesday to spend time with their families before returning to their respective clubs and franchises.
Utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit, who is nursing a shoulder niggle, returned home on Monday, while the other four players returning home are Kwagga Smith (loose forward), Lukhanyo Am (centre), Andre Esterhuizen (centre) and Makazole Mapimpi (wing).
“We gave a few players who are not playing the option to remain in camp or return home to spend quality time with their families, while at the same time ensuring that we have enough depth in the squad to cover all the positions in case we suffer injuries before the match,” said Erasmus.
“So, we are confident that we are all well covered in the event that anything should happen before the game.”
UPDATED SPRINGBOK TEAM TO FACE WALES IN CARDIFF:
15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 10 caps, 30 points (6t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 39 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 78 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 86 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 23 caps, 85 points (17t)
10 – Jordan Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 1 cap, 7 pts (2c, 1p)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 19 pts (2t, 3c, 1p)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 33 caps, 10 points (2t)
7 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps, 0 points
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 91 caps, 60 points (12t)
5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 77 caps, 15 points (3t)
4 – Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps, 0 pts (Ireland 5 caps)
3 – Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 15 caps, 0 points
2 – Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 0 points
1 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 22 caps, 5 pts (1t)
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 75 caps, 105 points (21t)
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 0 points
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 60 caps, 0 points
19 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 130 caps, 30 points (6t)
20 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 39 caps, 10 points (2t)
21 – Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped
22 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 38 caps, 70 pts (14t)
23 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 79 caps, 772 points (7t, 109c, 168p, 5dg)