South Africa prop Ox Nche lives by motto of 'salads don't win scrums'

Salads don’t win scrums… I need CAKE! 18-stone South Africa prop Ox Nche ‘counts slices of cake rather than calories’ as Springbok has an unorthodox plan for Rugby World Cup title defence

• Ox Nche does not let his rugby career get in the way of his eating habits
• South Africa prop is hoping to help the Springboks to back-to-back World Cups
• Rugby World Cup 2023: Click here for Mail Sport’s latest coverage from France
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

With his motto of ‘salads don’t win scrums’ and a love of chocolate cake, Retshegofaditswe Nche – known as Ox – is never going to be in the good books with South Africa’s team dietician.

But that hasn’t stopped the giant prop becoming a vital part of the Springbok ‘bomb squad’ as they look to make it back-to-back World Cup wins in France.

‘I don’t count calories, I count slices of cake!’ Nche says, a huge smile crossing his face.

‘Chocolate caramel is my favourite. It’s too late if they decide to ban it now (for the World Cup). I’ve already had some slices. I should be good to go.’

It is perhaps unsurprising that a man known as Ox needs more than a few lettuce leaves to fuel his performances at rugby’s highest level.

South Africa prop Ox Nche lives by the motto of ‘salads don’t win scrums’

The 18-stone prop says he should be ‘good to go’ at the World Cup after loading up on chocolate caramel cake

At just under 18 stone, Nche loves to refer to himself as ‘the chubby kid who could run a bit’ and his personality has made him a star off the field as well as on it.

The 28-year-old shares his love of cake with his social media followers and has built a clothing business called The Ox Kraal. It doesn’t take a genius to work out which motto is emblazoned across the majority of Nche’s products. ‘Salads do not win scrums. I truly believe that,’ he says.

Born in 1995 – the year Francois Pienaar lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup alongside Nelson Mandela and sent South Africa into rapture – Nche never dreamed of playing at a World Cup.

The hulking forward only took up rugby at 13. Now, 15 years later, he is eying up global glory as a key figure for South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber.

‘A lot of people actually get shocked when they get to know me that I have a pretty unique sense of humour,’ Nche says. ‘They always say I look so serious and that they’re afraid to approach me. Besides being a rugby player, it’s not a bad idea to let people get to know you a little bit off the field. As a kid I played sports but just for fun.

‘It was never something I took seriously until I fell in love with rugby. If you’d asked me as a kid if I’d ever have been a part of a World Cup squad, I’d have said no. It just shows if you do love something and work hard on it, then you can get to where you want to get to.’

As a member of Nienaber’s ‘bomb squad’, Nche and his team-mates are set to wreak more havoc in France.

The raw power South Africa can unleash from their bench has proved controversial.

It is standard practice for Nienaber and Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus to bring on a mass of fresh forwards early in the second half of matches, often with six on the bench.

Nche came off the bench as one of Jacques Nienaber’s ‘bomb squad’ in the Springboks record victory against New Zealand at Twickenham last month

Against New Zealand at Twickenham last month, South Africa brought on seven fresh forwards in the 47th minute, Nche among them.

They were promptly criticised for ‘abusing their bench.’

Nche will be one of six forwards on the South African bench against Scotland in what is a crunch Pool B opener in Marseille today on Sunday.

‘The bomb squad means the guys who are on the bench are as good as the guys who are starting,’ Nche adds. ‘When the guys who start come off, you know they’ve blown their gasket and it’s your chance to come on and impress. It’s pretty exciting.

‘I don’t know how other teams feel but for us we feel like we have to match that or top that. The coaches always have a plan which is to get the most effective guys on the field.

‘Once you’ve done your part, the next guy will come on and do the same job or even better.’

Nienaber has emphasised his belief ahead of this World Cup that the current South Africa squad is better than the team who won in 2019 in terms of depth and experience.

The Springboks are among the favourites to retain their World Cup crown.

World Cup holders South Africa are among the favourites for the title again this year in France

Nche believes the Springboks have a squad where ‘the guys on the bench are as good as the guys who are starting’

‘I’d give a lot to get the Webb Ellis back home,’ says Nche, who is playing at his first World Cup and has recovered from a pectoral tear to ready for France.

‘As much as we have our challenges as a country back home, some good news is always helpful.’

The reality is it will take a very good team to stop South Africa making it back-to-back titles. If any side is to beat them, they will have to first yield no quarter in the physical exchanges.

That is easier said than done as, with chocolate caramel cake Nche’s secret weapon, he and his fellow Springboks are eying up global glory once again.

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