'Blow for Blow': Boks reveal plan for Los Pumas' pack
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SPOTLIGHT: This weekend, the Springboks could be crowned the 2024 Rugby Championship winners if they overcome a passionate Los Pumas team in Santiago del Estero.
However, they will have to be the first to land the knockout blow, said Springboks prop Ox Nche.
A win for the Springboks will mean they secured the title ahead of the final round in Mbombela.
Los Pumas are the only team standing in the way of this feat, as they are eight points behind the current World Cup champs with two rounds remaining.
Both teams are renowned for their abrasive pack, and this weekend will be no different.
Nche, along with fellow front row stars Malcolm Marx and Thomas Du Toit, will have their work cut out for them as they try to dominate the set-pieces.
"When you come to Argentina, it is very similar to South Africa—the only difference is the language," said Nche, who had played against Los Pumas on three occasions.
"They have a lot of pride in their country and play for their people, similar to us.
"So if you play against their pack, the one thing you have to make sure of is that if they go low you have to go lower.
"Whatever you think you are going to give to them, they are going to give back to you. Whatever you think you can take, they can take as well.
"For us, it is just about going blow for blow, making sure we are the ones who land the first vital blow."
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Unpredictable Los Pumas
The 29-year-old World Cup winner explained that the Boks needed to brace themselves for the unexpected against Los Pumas.
Argentina have produced some noteworthy results, beating All Blacks in New Zealand and securing a record 67-27 win over Australia.
"Our theme is to expect the unexpected," said Nche.
"They've grown their set-piece game, especially the line-out. They try new things. They are not just two-dimensional, they vary their plan according to their opponents.
"I think they are going to be a massive challenge.
"They can maul and play off the top, play around the front or the back of the line-out. So, you can see that they have been putting a lot of work into their set-pieces.
"In terms of the scrum, they have a lot of guys who have been playing at the highest level for quite some time. They have a lot of strengths and work really well together. They just all come together and have a good system.
"They are really going to test us."
No French transfer
The prop also shut down speculation that he might be leaving the Sharks to join a French club.
RugbyPass reported that the the Sharks are on the fence about whether or not they can keep the World Cup winner beyond the end of the current season and French clubs have expressed their interest in the world-class loosehead prop.
"I have not heard anything from any French club. I asked my agent when I saw the article and he actually said he would handle it.
"But I have not heard anything and there have not been any discussions.
"So, as far as I know I am happy to stay in South Africa."
