All Blacks Star Tamaiti Williams Hails Springboks' Ox Nche as a 'Freak' Scrummager

• Injured All Blacks loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams praised Springboks counterpart Ox Nche ahead of the fourth and final Test in Baltimore
• Williams, sidelined with a spinal infection, spoke in detail about what separates Nche from every other prop in world rugby
• The All Blacks loosehead revealed a striking anecdote about Nche's mindset at the scrum that caught his attention during the series

Injured All Blacks loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams has lavished praise on Springboks counterpart Ox Nche, describing the South African as a "freak" whose dominance at scrum-time has defined the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.

Williams, who has earned 27 Test caps for New Zealand, is currently sidelined with a spinal infection and has been watching the four-Test series from the stands. Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby Australia and New Zealand podcast, he described the experience of being a spectator as unexpectedly moving.

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"I feel like a little boy watching the team you dream to play for," Williams said.

"And I guess from our lens now, it's our job so we understand it a lot more."

What makes Nche stand out

When former All Blacks captain Kieran Read pressed Williams on what specifically sets Nche apart from other loosehead props, the answer was clear.

"I reckon he can get into positions and get out of positions better than anyone," Williams said.

"He's so strong where other people could be vulnerable. We always talk about perfect pushing positions and what your knees look like, what your back looks like on the hit. But he is so powerful."

Williams credited Nche's confidence as a key factor in his effectiveness, noting that the Springbok's belief in his own ability amplifies his technical superiority.

"I think you've got to give him his flowers," Williams said.

"He's a freak, and he's made a name for the way he's played. And I guess it's a confidence thing too, right? When you're going well, you usually have more confidence, and he's full of confidence when it comes to scrums."

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A telling moment in Soweto

Williams pointed to a specific moment during the Soweto Test as evidence of Nche's extraordinary mindset. After the All Blacks knocked the ball on, Nche reportedly showed no interest in continuing play under normal circumstances.

"He's like, 'we'll take the scrum, sir'," Williams recalled.

"So it goes to show his mindset, and personally I think that's a big part of scrummaging is your mindset."

The Springboks head into Saturday's fourth and final Test in Baltimore with a 2-1 series lead over the All Blacks, with Nche widely regarded as the most influential scrummager in world rugby.

All Blacks prop loses 18kg after infection

Briefly News previously reported that All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams revealed he spent four months in hospital after a routine training session took a devastating turn

Doctors warned Williams that the MRSA superbug, which settled in his spine, could leave him permanently in a wheelchair

Source: Briefly News