The scrum set the platform against Leinster. Ox Nche on why the Hollywoodbets Sharks pack want actions, not catchphrases, and what awaits in the coastal derby against the DHL Stormers.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks dominant scrum has earned them huge gains out of the two matches they’ve played in this season’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship and this is an area of the game they will continue to work hard on to continue their success.
For Hollywoodbets Sharks prop Ox Nche, the impact of their scrumming effort was a focal point leading into the game against Leinster last week and the hard work definitely paid off in the bonus point victory they earned against last year’s champions.
“We prepped to be dominant in our set-pieces and the scrums were definitely an area where we thought we could pressure them, but we probably didn’t expect to do as well as we did,” he admits.
“It was one of our focuses for the game and it definitely had an impact. When you win a scrum penalty, you win another 30 or 40m and that just gives you momentum to play in their half and put pressure on them.”
Beating them for the first time pales in comparison to winning at Hollywoodbets Kings Park and making it a fortress, an arena opposition sides know is not an easy place to come and play, or win.
“We want to do well in our home games, that’s a big focus for us, and the boys have had a full pre-season. So we have goals we’ve set that we want to achieve and this is a good start.”
The defence was another hallmark of the team’s character and determination to win, and Nche admits that it’s a big part of how they see themselves.
“It’s been a pretty big focus for us on being relentless and physical and not just using it as words or a catchphrase, we want to show it with our actions. From that it should be evident what the DNA of the team is, we’re trying our best to show that. So, people get to see it, not just hear us talking about it.”
This weekend is the first away game, up against the DHL Stormers in the SA coastal derby and he expects a huge effort from both sides. While some might focus on the battle of the Springboks props, he acknowledges the role of the whole forward pack.
“It’s always exciting to come up against guys you play with [at the Springboks], it’s a great challenge to play against them but it’s not a ‘me’ thing, it’s about the whole pack and how well we prepare.
“Essentially, we must work together as a pack to ensure we get what we want out of the game.
“They’ve won one and lost one and this is their first game of the season in Cape Town so they’ll definitely want to make their home crowd happy. They’ll want to protect the good record they have at home and they’ll be up for it.
“We’re looking forward to playing against a confident and very good DHL Stormers side.”
Having only recently joined the squad from the Springboks, he wasn’t part of the pre-season, but has noticed that things are different in the camp.
“We don’t just speak words, one thing I’ve seen is that there is a focus on doing what we say, there’s a lot of action and there’s a strong connection, we’re all of the same mindset and more aligned.
“There’s definitely a difference from previous seasons and I’m enjoying it.”
