Springboks: Nick Mallett highlights impact of Ox Nche’s departure for rest of end-of-year tour

Nick Mallett believes the absence of Ox Nche during the rest of the Springboks’ end-of-year tour to Europe will be a huge setback for the world champions.

The Springboks made an excellent start to their Autumn Nations Series campaign when they cruised to a 61-7 victory over Japan at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday.

However, Rassie Erasmus’ troops suffered a major setback as star loosehead prop Nche was forced off the field after just 18 minutes due to injury.

Nche, who is widely regarded as the best player in his position in the world, twisted his ankle and knee at a ruck and was seen on crutches after the match.

Asenathi Ntlabakanye called up as a replacement

Erasmus confirmed afterwards that the front-row star’s tour was over and has subsequently called up Asenathi Ntlabakanye as a replacement.

The Boks‘ remaining matches will be against France in Paris on Saturday, Italy in Turin on November 15, Ireland in Dublin on November 22 and Wales in Cardiff on November 29.

Mallett was appearing on the Talking Boks podcast with Brenden Nel and bemoaned the absence of Nche, although he did not know the full extent of the 30-year-old’s injury initially.

“He is such a key member of the starting 15. His dominance over tightheads internationally has been unbelievable (and) a huge bloody bonus for South Africa,” said the former Springboks coach.

Springboks prop stocks hit as Rassie Erasmus names Ox Nche’s replacement after ‘tough’ injury

“So to go into that French team knowing that you’re going to get three or four penalties from him is a massive advantage.

“So we’re not sure quite how bad it was, but it didn’t look good when a guy has to go off like that at the beginning of the game.”

‘That throws a whole new aspect on the rest of the tour’

Nel then informed Mallett that Nche will be ruled out of the Boks’ remaining tour matches and he replied: “Well, that throws a whole new aspect on the rest of the tour because, as I said, he is so dominant.

“As with (Steven) Kitshoff or Beast (Mtawarira), we’ve been really privileged to have looseheads who get on top of their opponents.

“And I think now with Jan-Hendrik Wessels, also, the fact that he’s taken an eight-game (ban), he was also sort of backing us up on the loosehead side.

“So there’s quite a lot of work to do there now with (Gerhard) Steenekamp and, is it Boan Venter? I think those are the two guys now in the draft.

“But maybe we won’t get the dominance.”

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