Mike Greenaway
In a timely boost for a Sharks team reeling from a 50-point hammering away to Leicester in the Champions Cup, popular Ox Nche has signed a new three-year deal that will keep him in Durban until the end of 2028.
The 29-year-old loosehead prop was one of a handful of players rested from the trip to Leicester. He will make a welcome return to the Sharks’ front row for Saturday’s big United Rugby Championship derby against the Bulls at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
The Bulls are also coming off a loss in the Challenge Cup but an area in which they excelled was in the set scrums where Wilco louw was outstanding. The battle between Nche and Louw will alone be worth the price of the admission ticket.
The Bulls have a formidable front row and it will be interesting to see who the Sharks select at hooker where the Bulls boast Bok newcomer Johan Grobbelaar.
Against Leicester, the Sharks started with Dylan Richardson but John Plumtree highly rates up-and-coming youngster Ethan Bester, who he predicts will have “a long Springbok career.”
The loose forward battle will be pivotal because the Sharks are thin on the ground after the double calamity of losing their best flanks, Vincent Tshituka and James Venter, to long-term injuries. The former’s brother, Manu, has been in good form, and Phepsi Buthelezi is having an excellent season. Still, the red-hot Cameron Hanekom and the experienced Marcell Coetzee will put them under pressure.
Of course, the Sharks will have back Springbok captain Siya Kolisi — also rested last week — in his new position of No 8 and there is a reasonable chance that Bok bruiser Eben Etzebeth could be back from niggle.
Burly centre Andre Esterhuizen was the other Shark spared the journey to Leicester and he will make a big difference.
Meanwhile, Nche was reportedly on the shopping list of some heavyweight French clubs so his decision to remain at the Sharks is a coup not only for the Durbanites but for South African rugby. The Springbok prop's contract at the Shark Tank was coming to an end at the end of this season.
Nche joined the Sharks from the Cheetahs in 2020 and has made 60 appearances for the Sharks.
His re-signing comes not that long after the Sharks also nailed the long-term services Kolisi and Esterhuizen, and a contract extension by Bongi Mbonambi. Etzebeth is also contracted to the Sharks for two more seasons.
Before a two-week pause in the URC, the Bulls and Sharks were riding high on the back of impressive performances. The Bulls had defeated Connacht in Galway, while Plumtree’s men pulled off a miracle win over the Stormers in Durban.
After both suffering defeats last week, plenty is riding on Saturday’s game at the Shark Tank. | Independent Media Sport