Rugby Championships 2023
SANZAAR has confirmed the fixture list for the upcoming 2023 Rugby Championship, adding an additional round of matches. Photo: SA Rugby website

Home » All love between Springbok duo vying for same spot

All love between Springbok duo vying for same spot

They might be vying for the same position in the Springbok team, but Ox Nche says there’s no competition between him and Steven Kitshoff, who he says inspires him to be a better player. Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named a Rugby Championship training squad of 40 players – which features a handful of overseas based players – […]

15-06-23 19:10
Rugby Championships 2023
SANZAAR has confirmed the fixture list for the upcoming 2023 Rugby Championship, adding an additional round of matches. Photo: SA Rugby website

They might be vying for the same position in the Springbok team, but Ox Nche says there’s no competition between him and Steven Kitshoff, who he says inspires him to be a better player.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named a Rugby Championship training squad of 40 players – which features a handful of overseas based players – for their next assignment, a three-week training camp in Pretoria from Sunday, 11 June until Thursday, 29 June.

ALSO READ | Springboks: How many times have they won the Rugby Championship title?

The group had its first media conference on Wednesday and it was there where Nche spoke of his admiration for Steven Kitshoff, who has amassed a whopping 71 Tests to date.

Nche said having a player of Steven Kitshoff’s calibre in the squad brought the best out of him.

“I don’t see Steven as competition, we try to help one another,” said Nche. “I’ve watched him play for the Stormers and he makes me want to be a better player.”

ALSO READ: Springbok giant happy to be back in Test fold after injury struggles

SPRINGBOKS FOCUS ON RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST, WORLD CUP LATER

Nche echoed Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber’s sentiments that focusing on the Rugby Championship, rather than the Rugby World Cup was vital for the team.

“You have to climb a mountain step by step, and we first have to get through the Rugby Championship and play well in that tournament before we can look ahead,” said Nche.

MUST READ | The FIVE Springbok backline stars who won’t help defend their title

SPRINGBOKS TEST FIXTURES IN 2023

Rugby Championship

 8 July: Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

✈ 15 July: South Africa vs New Zealand (Mount Smart, Auckland)

 29 July: South Africa vs Argentina (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

World Cup warm-ups

✈ 5 August: South Africa vs Argentina (Vélez Stadium, Buenos Aires)

✈ 19 August: South Africa vs Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

✈ 25 August: Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham Stadium, London)

Rugby World Cup

✈ 10 September: South Africa vs Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

✈ 17 September: Springboks vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)

✈ 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris)

✈ 1 October: South Africa vs Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

ALSO READ: Springboks — Rassie names SIX candidates in line for stand-in captaincy role

Springbok trio in training Photo Steve Haag Gallo Images
Springbok trio in training. Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images.