Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Ox Nche\u2019s international season is over after sustaining an injury in the 61-7 victory over Japan at Wembley Stadium.<\/b><\/p>\n
Nche was forced off the pitch after an awkward collision with Japan skipper Warner Dearns in the opening 20 minutes of the game and was subsequently replaced by Gerhard Steenekamp.<\/p>\n
It was Steenekamp\u2019s first game for the Springboks<\/a> this year, with the loosehead prop struggling with an injury of his own, but he continued the strong work of Nche, particularly in the scrums, playing over an hour.<\/p>\n Ox Nche ruled out<\/p>\n His return from injury and full fitness has proven to be rather timely as it eases a potential loosehead prop crisis with Erasmus confirming that Nche\u2019s<\/a> tour is over.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s serious, I don\u2019t think he will play for the rest of the tour,\u201d Erasmus<\/a> said.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, in the tackle situation, he hurt his ankle and his knees \u2013 he is on crutches, I don\u2019t think we will have him for the rest of the tour.\u201d<\/p>\n In Steenekamp\u2019s absence earlier this year, Edinburgh prop Boan Venter made his Test debut against Georgia and has since gone on to make four further caps.<\/p>\n Venter didn\u2019t play against Japan, possibly because he was available due to the match being outside of the official World Rugby international window, which is also true for Bath\u2019s Thomas du Toit.<\/p>\n Springboks player ratings: \u2018Generational talent\u2019 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu shines before Bomb Squad\u2019s \u2018demolition job\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Springboks v Japan: Five takeaways as Boks \u2018bully\u2019 Brave Blossoms into submission<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Replacement<\/p>\n While Du Toit has mostly played tighthead for club and country recently, he is capable of switching sides of the scrum with ease, and Erasmus says that he will be asked to do so again with tighthead prop Asenathi\u00a0Ntlabakanye likely to be called in as injury cover for Nche.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are planning to replace him. We\u2019ve got Boan Venter and Gerhard Steenekamp, who played really well, then Thomas du Toit is back, and then we have Wilco Louw and Zach Porthern,\u201d the Bok boss added.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if another loosehead goes down in the week, we are in a bit of trouble, so we will probably get Asenathi\u00a0Ntlabakanye in, but I do need to talk to the selectors first. But thinking about it right now, Asenathi\u00a0will come in and then Thomas will swing between tighthead and loosehead for us.<\/p>\n \u201cI just need to get the go-ahead from the selectors, but that\u2019s where our heads are currently.\u201d<\/p>\n