Springbok prop Ox Nche believes a greater sense of belief, connection and alignment has helped create a noticeably different Sharks environment as they prepare for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship derby against the Stormers.
Nche has only recently linked up with the Sharks after missing their pre-season preparations, but two matches into their campaign he says he has already noticed a change from the team he experienced over the previous three seasons.
The Sharks have backed up their opening win over the Ospreys with an impressive victory over Leinster, giving them early momentum ahead of their trip to Cape Town. But for Nche, the most significant difference has been less about the results and more about how the squad is operating.
“Definitely, I think we don’t just say words,” Nche said ahead of Saturday’s clash at Cape Town Stadium.
“One thing I’ve seen is that there’s actually action and we do what we say. There’s just a bit more belief and connection amongst each other. We’re all on the same mindset. We’re all more aligned, if I have to say so. I mean, I’m enjoying it. There’s definitely been a difference from the previous three seasons.”
That sense of alignment has been evident in the Sharks’ opening two performances, with their physical approach and willingness to work for one another helping them overcome two challenging opponents.
For Nche, however, the challenge now is to ensure the early progress becomes a sustained part of the team’s identity rather than a short-lived boost from a good start.
Saturday’s derby should provide a useful measure of that progress, with the Stormers returning home for the first time this season after winning one and losing one of their opening two matches.
The Sharks also have the added motivation of travelling to Cape Town after completing a league double over the Stormers last season, although Nche is focused firmly on the present rather than past results.
With familiar Springbok faces likely to line up on the opposite side, the occasion will carry plenty of personal intrigue, but Nche sees the contest through the lens of the collective.
His message is consistent with the cultural shift he has identified since returning to the Sharks: individual battles matter less than the group pulling in the same direction.
And with the Sharks already showing signs of a stronger collective identity, Saturday’s derby will offer another opportunity to see whether that belief can translate into sustained performances against one of the URC’s heavyweight South African rivals.
