‘Salads don’t win scrums’: Ox Nché is icing on Springboks’ front-row cake

A World Cup winner in 2023, the loosehead is part of South Africa’s feared ‘Bomb Squad’ and a hero in his home country

Ox Nché is far from the finished article. By his own admission, the Springboks prop has just about mastered the basics. He’s not bad at the flourishing touches but there is a long way to go in his development.In short, he is a work in progress. “I’m learning, actually. I can do just one layer so far,” he admits. “And obviously the icing.”

Nché is, of course, talking about making cakes. The 17-stone loosehead is obsessed with them. His favourite is chocolate caramel, his mantra is that “salads don’t win scrums” and asked the secret to his set-piece prowess he bursts into a bout of his gentle, infectious laughter before shooting back “cake!”.

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Notre Dame’s final three games will determine its College Football Playoff destiny | College Football Power Hour

Caroline Fenton & Jason Fitz break down Notre Dame's placement at 8th on this week's College Football Playoff rankings. Despite their blowout win over Florida State on Saturday, they are still very much on the bubble with this year's expanded 12-team playoff format. Caroline & Fitz explain that an upcoming matchup against #24 Army will make or break the playoff hopes for the Fighting Irish. Hear the full conversation on the “College Football Power Hour” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.