Ox cleared for selection against Wales

The Springboks breathed a sigh of relief with the news that Ox Nche has been cleared to play after a cut above his knee during the win against England on Saturday.

Nche, who was ignored by World Rugby for the Player of the Year award despite some stellar performances this season, will be available for selection in the season-ending test against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

But whether he will play will be another decision that coach Rassie Erasmus must make against a side that took 50 points at home from Australia on Sunday.

Nche came off the park with a nasty cut above his knee that required stitches but Bok assistant coach Deon Davids delivered some good news on Monday in Cardiff.

This looks worrying for the Ox 🤕

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“Ox got a cut above his knee. He recovered well,” Davids told the assembled media.

“He did the gym session this morning. He, like all the other players, is available for selection. There are a couple of guys with bumps and bruises, but there aren’t a lot of concerns for us at this stage.”

Wales may be on an 11-game losing streak, but the Boks will be carefully weighing up their options on their starting line-up.

They may well decide to field an all-Bulls front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw.

Of the touring party, only Grobbelaar and fellow Bulls player Cameron Hanekom and replacement utility back Jordan Hendrikse have not had game time as yet.

With the Boks expected to make several changes on Tuesday, all of these players could well find themselves in the starting line-up.

Hendrikse may well end up in the same starting line-up as his brother Jaden, something that was hinted by Erasmus earlier in the tour.

“That will be a decision that the head coach will make during this week,” a straight-faced Davids played a defensive bat when asked about the team selection. 

“At this stage, our plan is for everyone to train in all positions. Everyone is available for selection.

“It has always been part of the plan to ensure that we win each test match, but also that we get the balance right in terms of reaching our goals for the future with the players we have here.

“That will be taken into consideration with the selection and our planning for this week.”

The Boks will name their side for the Wales clash on Tuesday afternoon.