Salads may not win scrums but Springbok prop Ox Nche will be able to have his cake and eat it too.
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This comes after Woolworths reached out to the front-ranker, offering a year’s worth of free treats.
‘Dear Ox,’ read a post on the retailer’s Instagram page on Sunday. ‘Please reach out to us for a year’s supply of chocolate cake. After last night, it’s a South African priority.’
Nche had an outstanding performance in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final victory as the Springboks narrowly edged out the English by a single point to remain on track to retain World Rugby’s most sought-after piece of silverware.
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The 28-year-old came off the bench in the second half to replace Steven Kitshoff and had a huge impact in the scrum as the defending champions won 16-15.
His strength helped win scrum penalties, including one that resulted in an RG Snyman try, giving hope to the title-holders, who trailed by nine points with 13 minutes remaining.
Another scrum penalty allowed Handre Pollard to score a long-range penalty and secure a final showdown with their arch-rivals, New Zealand, on Saturday.
Retshegofaditswe (We are blessed) Nche, also known as Ox, is following in the footsteps of other outstanding Springbok looseheads, Os du Randt and Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira.
While South Africa prepares to face fellow three-time world champions New Zealand on Saturday, England will face Argentina for the bronze medals 24 hours earlier.
The loosehead prop has gathered a large following on social media as the leader of the ‘Ox Kraal’ and a famed hater of salads.
Prior to the tournament, Nche explained why he decided on the lighter side of his character on his social platforms, which often belie the stern-looking destroyer of scrums seen on Saturdays.
‘People get shocked when they get to see me and realise, I actually have a pretty unique sense of humour,’ Nche said.
‘They often say I look too serious and, at times, people are afraid to approach me, so I thought, it’s not a bad thing in being a rugby player, that people also get to know a different side of me off the field.’
‘Salads do not win scrums. I truly believe that. That’s why Cheslin is on the wing and I’m in the front row,’ added Nche with a chuckle.
‘I don’t count calories, I count slices of cake. I enjoy a chocolate caramel. It’s too late now, but I did have a slice during the week, so I should be good to go.’
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Picture: Shaun Roy / BackpagePix