Adapt or die: Sharks' Ox Nche urges resilience as SA franchises falter in Europe

The South African rugby teams’ struggles in Europe were again laid bare over the weekend, with the country’s franchises enduring a bruising round in the EPCR Challenge Cup and Champions Cup.

Heavy defeats and missed opportunities highlighted the physical and mental toll of competing across hemispheres.

The Sharks were among the sides left frustrated as the South African teams struggled to match their European counterparts, a pattern that has sparked debate around player fatigue, squad depth, and the relentless demands of the modern rugby calendar. With local sides now balancing the United Rugby Championship alongside two gruelling European competitions, teams have preferred to target home matches with their first-choice players, while sending second-stringers abroad.

The Sharks went down 26–10 in their Champions Cup match against Sale Sharks in Manchester, while the Stormers were hammered 61–10 away to Harlequins. The Bulls suffered defeat at home, with the Bristol Bears running out 61–49 winners at Loftus.

In the Challenge Cup, the Cheetahs had to forfeit their match against Ulster (recorded as a 28–0 loss) following heavy snow in Amsterdam. The Lions, on the other hand, were the only South African team to emerge victorious, winning their Challenge Cup match 42–33 against Lyon at Ellis Park.

However, Sharks and Springbok prop Ox Nche insists there are lessons to be learned regarding getting the balance right between playing the best players and rotation.

“For us, it is our job essentially to play rugby,” Nche said, addressing the idea that tired bodies may be contributing to recent struggles. “From my personal point of view, we just have to find a way to adapt.

“We’ve always been used to playing just one competition, and now these new competitions require a much bigger squad and much more rotation than we’re previously used to. So we just have to find a way to adapt.”

Nche believes the challenge also carries long-term benefits, particularly in developing depth. Increased rotation, he argues, will ultimately strengthen South African rugby by giving more players exposure at the highest level.

“It will help raise the quality of players that come through, because now everyone has to get a chance,” he said. “We just have to find the right plans... they have to make sure that the freshest guys are playing and everyone is on the same level.”

For the Sharks, that adaptation must happen quickly. Their upcoming Champions Cup clash against Clermont has all the hallmarks of a must-win encounter, with their knockout qualification hopes hanging by a thread. The Sharks are currently second from bottom in Pool 1 and must get maximum points from their remaining matches to qualify for the Round of 16.

“The aim is to get maximum points and also get a few extra points just to change that points difference a bit. We’re going all in and seeing it as a play-off match,” Nche added.

Despite mixed results, he insists confidence remains intact: “We’ve played really well and created opportunities, but the problem is our skillset — a knock-on just before we score or guys reacting a bit late and conceding a turnover. We’re playing well for parts of the game and we just have to stay focused for the entire 80 minutes.”