Former No 8 Nick Easter believes England can upset the Springboks on Saturday, but only if they neutralise Ox Nché at scrum time and put pressure on flyhalf Manie Libbok.
Libbok gets the nod at 10 ahead of the experienced Handré Pollard as the Boks launch their Nations Championship campaign at Ellis Park.
Nché starts at loosehead prop alongside hooker Malcolm Marx and No 3 Thomas du Toit.
Writing for Planet Rugby, Easter, who was capped 54 times by England, argues the tighthead battle will decide Saturday’s contest. He describes Nché as an anomaly for his size, using low leverage and technique to overpower taller opponents and drag his side forward through the scrum.
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Easter says parity there is non-negotiable for England, since a functioning set-piece would hand them a weapon in the closing stages when territory battles are typically won and lost.
“The scrum decides whether England can take it,” he writes. “Without parity at the set-piece they have no chance, and the man in their way is a freak.
“Nché is built low, around five-foot-eight against tightheads of six-foot-three, with the genetics the job asks for.”
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On attack, Easter identifies Libbok as South Africa’s key vulnerability. He notes the former Stormers pivot thrives when tempo is high but has wobbled under pressure before, pointing to his early substitution in the 2023 World Cup semi-final against the English.
“Manie Libbok lifts everything when the tempo is up and the ball is alive, and his management can wobble when it tightens,” he writes.
“Running rugby is the hardest game to switch on cold. It comes once a side has a game or two in the legs together, and South Africa do not have that yet.”
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Easter also urges specific England selections, including starts for Henry Pollock and Ben Earl in the back row, Fin Smith at flyhalf, and Tommy Freeman paired with Seb Atkinson in midfield, while resting Tom Curry.
Photo: Franco Arland/Gallo Images
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