Shimange: All Blacks target Nché in Springbok scrum head battle

The Springboks’ 33-26 second-Test victory has intensified the scrum dispute before Saturday’s third Test against New Zealand at FNB Stadium. Former Springbok hooker Hanyani Shimange believes the All Blacks are trying to separate loosehead prop Ox Nché from hooker Malcolm Marx during the set piece.

The scrum has become the central issue in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has questioned the Springboks’ movement before and during scrums and referred the matter to World Rugby. After the Cape Town match, he again objected to the Boks’ positioning at scrum time.

Rassie Erasmus responded angrily to the accusation, while Springbok scrum coach Daan Human also rejected the suggestion that he had instructed the pack to move around. Shimange said those comments could provide additional motivation for the South African forwards in the third Test.

His explanation focuses on the contest between the opposing props. Shimange said New Zealand tighthead Tyrel Lomax may be shifting towards his right in an attempt to pull Nché away from Marx. That would leave Nché carrying more of the pressure without the same connection to the hooker, allowing the All Blacks to attack that side of the scrum.

Shimange described Nché’s effort to move back towards the front-row unit as a response to that pressure rather than evidence of an illegal movement. He said the positioning reflected the battle between the two props for control of the hit, with the Springboks seeking to generate forward momentum from their tighthead side.

Refereeing decisions could again influence the contest. Australian official Angus Gardner allowed play to continue on several occasions when New Zealand’s scrum collapsed in Cape Town, limiting South Africa’s chance to gain more from an area where it held an advantage. Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli will take charge at FNB Stadium, and Shimange expects him to intervene decisively when a scrum goes down.