The Springboks will face Wales on Saturday without Ox Nche, as head coach Rassie Erasmus has opted to rest the influential prop. Nche, who started last week’s match against England in London but exited early due to an injury, was declared fit to play earlier this week. However, Erasmus and his coaching staff decided on Wednesday to give the 29-year-old a break.
“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.
Nche’s absence has prompted a reshuffle in the Springbok front row. Wilco Louw, who has been training well, will return to the starting lineup as the tighthead prop, while Thomas du Toit will shift to loosehead prop.
“Wilco started last week’s match and has been performing well in training, so it makes sense to include him in the starting team and move Thomas to loosehead,” Erasmus explained. “This also ensures consistency among the replacements in the front row.”
The Springboks are aiming to finish their UK tour unbeaten, and Erasmus is confident the team has sufficient depth to handle any challenges. “We’ve given some players not in the matchday squad the option to remain in camp or return home to spend time with their families. At the same time, we’ve ensured we have enough cover in case of injuries before the match,” he added.
Erasmus’s second tenure as Springboks coach has been marked by remarkable success, with only one loss since his return. The decision to rest Nche reflects his long-term focus on maintaining player fitness and squad depth as the team builds toward future challenges.
The Springboks will look to carry their momentum into the match against Wales, confident in their ability to adapt and deliver another strong performance despite Nche’s absence.