“Ox saved us.” And with these few words confessed in the mixed zone of the Stade de France, fly-half Handre Pollard said a lot about the strange feeling that inhabited the Springboks on Saturday evening. That of having come very close to a major fiasco and having been extricated from it largely thanks to the power of a 1.73m giant. Paradoxical in the team sport par excellence. Somewhat surprising, too, when we would have expected Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth or Manie Libbok in this costume of light. But so true. When the three cities had little or no impact on the outcome of this semi-final against England (16-15), Nche changed the situation.
“It was a blessing to have such a contribution in the scrum,” continued Pollard. “The impact on this match was incredible.” Coming into play half an hour from the end, the Sharks left-hander first avoided the sinking of his team twenty minutes from time. With nine points behind (6-15) and the obligation to concede a scrum 5 meters from their goal, the Springboks seemed closer than ever to the precipice. A monumental double push from Nche, who exploded the Englishman Kyle Sinclair in passing, brilliantly kept them away.
No pillar I pushed behind can boast the same strength as Oxy
Not content with having prevented his team from taking more points, the 28-year-old pillar then allowed them to score and catch up. Still in his favorite exercise, twisting then crossing his evening victim to obtain the penalty prior to RG Snyman’s try (67th). Finally, he solidly accompanied a final titanic effort from the South African pack and his partner Vincent Koch to recover the winning penalty four minutes from time, converted by Pollard.
All the Springboks paid tribute to Ox Nche at the end of the match. Perhaps the most vibrant of these came from RG Snyman, 33 centimeters taller than him but who bowed willingly: “I’ve pushed scrums behind a number of props in my career but none, I think, can’t boast of having as much strength as Oxy! He’s a very special player.” It is perhaps not for nothing that Nche, his real first name Retshegofaditswe, was baptized Ox, which means beef in French. Like Snyman, many rave comments appeared on Twitter on Saturday after the Durban player’s “master class”. The glory hour of a shadow hero.
Thank you, Gentlemen of the English!
2023-10-22 13:18:00
#World #Cup #Nche #unexpected #hero #brought #England
