Ox Nche identifies ‘the problem’ which Sharks must fix to return to winning ways in Investec Champions Cup
Sharks prop Ox Nche (inset) and his team-mates during a URC match.
Sharks loosehead prop Ox Nche has highlighted the importance of the Durban-based outfit’s Investec Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne in Durban on Saturday.
Despite having a plethora of Springboks in their ranks, the Sharks have not played to their full potential during the 2025/26 season.
The men from Durban have already parted ways with their head coach John Plumtree with JP Pietersen taking over the coaching reins on an interim basis until the end of the season.
The Sharks are currently occupying 14th position in the United Rugby Championship standings after eight matches played and are in fifth spot in Pool One of the Investec Champions Cup with five points amassed.
This, after three rounds of matches in the competition and they simply have to beat Clermont, who are in sixth position, if they want to advance to the Champions Cup’s round-of-16 via the back door.
The Sharks can advance to the play-offs with a victory, provided other results go their way, while the Top 14 outfit need a bonus-point triumph to be in with a chance of Challenge Cup knockout qualification.
‘We’re going all in and seeing it as a play-off match’
“The aim is to get maximum points and also get a few extra points just to change that points difference a bit. We’re going all in and seeing it as a play-off match,” said Nche.
After suffering a 56-19 away defeat against Toulouse in their Champions Cup opener, the Sharks bounced back with a hard-fought 28-23 victory in Durban over Saracens before losing 26-10 at Sale Sharks last weekend.
Although his side have not hit their straps in the Champions Cup yet, Nche is full of confidence they can return to winning ways against Clermont.
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“We’ve played really well and created opportunities, but the problem is our skillset — a knock-on just before we score or guys reacting a bit late and conceding a turnover,” he added.
‘Have to stay focused for the entire 80 minutes’
“We’re playing well for parts of the game and we just have to stay focused for the entire 80 minutes.”
Pietersen opted to leave the bulk of his first-choice players behind in Durban for their trip to Salford to take on Sale and although the Sharks came to the fore with a brave all-round performance, they failed to run their hosts close.
Nche feels they are on a steep learning curve between sending their best line-up into a match and rotating players.
It has been said in the past that tired bodies have made it a necessity for the Sharks to rest some of their players but Nche believes they have to handle any situation presented to them.
“For us, it is our job essentially to play rugby,” said the 30-year-old. “From my personal point of view, we just have to find a way to adapt.
“We’ve always been used to playing just one competition, and now these new competitions require a much bigger squad and much more rotation than we’re previously used to.
“So we just have to find a way to adapt.”
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