Nche: We have to bounce back against Australia

Springbok prop Ox Nche was visibly disappointed, much like all of his teammates on Saturday night, following their 38-22 defeat against the Wallabies in the first round of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at Ellis Park and said they had to bounce back strongly next week to get their campaign back on track.

The Wallabies outscored the Boks six tries to three, overturning a 22-0 lead by the hosts after 20 minutes in the process and Nche attributed the result to mistakes and a failure to execute their plans in the second half.

“We want to win the Rugby Championship,” said Nche. “Next weekend is a must-win Test (against Australia in Cape Town) and we have to get as many points as we can.”

Reflecting on Saturday’s result in Johannesburg, the Bok prop said: “At half-time, the chat was simply to stick to the plan and execute things, as it was working. But we just went off the script in the second half.

“They scored three easy tries early on and it wasn’t from a good set piece. They were just more active and ready and they pounced ahead.

“They just seemed more prepared than we were and they used every opportunity they got, whereas we didn’t. Everyone just started going off on their plan instead of sticking to the plan we had as a team.”

Asked what they had to do to turn things around when the teams meet at the DHL Stadium next week, before lining up against New Zealand in Auckland and Wellington and Argentina in Durban and London respectively, Nche said: “For me personally, it means more hard work, more preparation and to be better prepared. To do whatever you did last week and do more of it. The only thing we can do is to execute better.”

The Springboks made the trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Sunday and will begin their on-field preparations on Monday.