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Springboks, Dricus: What time to watch these stars in action?

Springboks, Dricus: What time to watch these stars in action?

The Springboks are back in action this Saturday as they tackle Australia in their Rugby Championship opener, but many sports fans will also be just as interested in Dricus du Plessis' UFC title defence.
Du Plessis (23-2) has in fact not lost since October 2018, and will attempt to knock Khamzat Chimaev from the ranks of the unbeaten as he returns to the Octagon in what will be his third fight in defence of his UFC middleweight belt.
Due to the time difference, the main card is scheduled to start from 04:00 (SA time) this Sunday morning, but the exact time will also be determined by the length of the preliminary fights prior to the Du Plessis-Chimaev bout.
For those wanting to get up early for this fight, it does mean they might need to take it a little easy during the braais and 'watch parties' that will undoubtedly be taking place around South Africa for the Springboks-Wallabies clash.
That Rugby Championship encounter will kick off at 17:10 at Ellis Park, while it also can't be forgotten that this will be followed later in the night by the battle between the All Blacks and Argentina in Córdoba (23:10 kick off time in SA).
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
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Springboks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit , 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse. UFC 319: DU PLESSIS VS. CHIMAEV – MAIN CARD
– Main event: Middleweight Championship: Dricus du Plessis v Khamzat Chimaev
– Featherweight: Lerone Murphy v Aaron Pico
– Welterweight: Geoff Neal v Carlos Prates
– Middleweight: Jared Cannonier v Michael Page
– Flyweight: Tim Elliott v Kai Asakura
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Springboks must flatten Wallabies if they are to summit the Rugby Championship mountain, says Ox Nche
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Springboks must flatten Wallabies if they are to summit the Rugby Championship mountain, says Ox Nche

SPRINGBOK prop Ox Nche seemingly in the mood for some robust action ahead of the Rugby Championship encounter against Australia. | BackpagePix 'So the challenge has become bigger. We would not compete in the Rugby Championship if we were not trying to try and win it. We will go all guns blazing to try and win it. We are in a good position in that we still have all of our experience but also a lot of young talent coming through.' 'All the other teams are a year older, their players more experienced. Argentina beat the British and Irish Lions. Australia also beat them, and New Zealand are always up there. Nche, who will win his 42nd cap on Saturday, says the Boks understand that they have to improve this season because the opposition certainly has. 'We have the mentality of a mountain climber,' Nche said. 'You don't climb a mountain by looking up; you climb it step by step. And if we don't do well in these two Australia Tests, it is not a good start to the climb. If we do well, it will give us confidence, and the way becomes easier.' The Boks have never won back-to-back Championship titles and begin their defence at Ellis Park on Saturday when they entertain the Wallabies in the first of two Tests in South Africa. It is difficult to picture roly-poly prop Ox Nche scaling mountain peaks but he used a good climbing analogy to describe how the Springboks will go about defending their Rugby Championship title. Nche said that the Boks are better off for a recent three-week training camp that the players have described as 'torturous.' Nche would have had none of his favourite confectionery as fitness expert Andy Edwards cracked the whip to get the Boks fitter than ever. 'The aim is for us to be better than we were last year. As much as we wanted to do well in the incoming series (against Italy and Georgia), and as much as the scoreboard matters, we also had boxes that we wanted to tick as we focus on longer-term goals. 'In the conditioning camp, we hammered away at our fitness, and an area of weakness that Italy exposed — the breakdown. They were very good, so the breakdown has been a big focus for us. 'With the conditioning, it is about everyone being comfortable and confident that we can play at a high intensity at altitude.' Last year, the Boks beat the Wallabies twice in Australia, but Nche points out that the Aussies have come a long way since then. 'We saw in the last two Lions Tests how they started to gel together,' Nche said. 'They will be looking forward to this Test. They will be up for it. They are now in a position to try and get the little pieces right and get more cohesion. 'They have improved hugely,' Nche added. 'They have a nice balance of good, new combinations and players who have played for them for a while.' In Nche's area of expertise, the scrum, he says the Wallabies have moved on from a team that avoided the scrum to relishing it. "They are coming together nicely in the scrums. Their lineout was also good against the Lions — they win most of their ball and compete well. They have got the right combinations together.' Nche's direct opponent will be Tonga-born Taniela Tupou, the formidable 148kg giant. 'When we still played Super Rugby, I scrummed against Tupou (who was with the Queensland Reds), and also at international level. He is an explosive guy. He knows how to scrum. We just have to be well prepared. 'The Wallabies, in general, have become more confrontational compared to previous seasons. They seem to be more fired up. I think they will take the game to us. 'They will feel that if they can match us at their set piece, they can impose the game that they are good at (expansive rugby). They will be more up for this game than ever.'

Springboks Fassi, Ox Nche pay tribute to 'remarkable' Grant Williams
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On Saturday, Grant Williams starts at Ellis Park two years after suffering a horrible concussion in the first minute of a Rugby Championship match against Argentina. Williams' Sharks teammates, Ox Nche and Aphelele Fassi, are not surprised that the scrumhalf is returning to the scene of the crime — for a Championship match against Australia —a stronger, better player. 'Grant has had a challenging time with injuries — this season he has battled with a neck problem, but I have seen how much he has grown as a person,' Nche said. 'He strives to be better, he focuses on small things, and continually tries to improve. 'Grant is very important to the team,' Nche added. 'He is probably one of the hardest workers in the squad. He is becoming a good leader, especially for his position, where the scrumhalf is an important leader. 'I think he has grown into the position. He has suffered a lot of injuries, and it is so cool to see him healthy and playing this Test match against the Wallabies. Fassi added, 'Grant has had an up-and-down season caused by injury. His mental strength is one of his biggest weapons. 'To be able to recover from injury and get into the Springbok camp, work on his neck and be able to be playing again for the Springboks is remarkable. 'His first Test this year was against Georgia to mark an excellent comeback (from injury in the United Rugby Championship),' Fassi said. 'Grant is a strong weapon for the Springboks. Being strong is what he does week in, week out. I'm thrilled for him that he has overcome adversity and is playing this big Test against the Wallabies.'

Springboks' Ox Nche: Wallabies present a tough challenge
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Despite being favourites, Springboks prop Ox Nche warns of a tough challenge from the rising Wallabies in their Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL Australia, though, seem to be on the up as their recent series against the British and Irish Lions seems to indicate. Though Australia lost the series 2-1, they did win their final encounter in Sydney on August 2. In fact, the last time the Wallabies beat the Boks came in 2022 in Adelaide. Since then, the Springboks have run out comprehensive victors. The last time Australia beat South Africa at the famed venue in the heart of Johannesburg came 62 years ago. Despite the Springboks being overwhelming favourites for their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on Saturday, South Africa prop Ox Nche says their opposition will be no pushover. Nche Highlights Australia's Rising Form Ahead of Test Match Against South Africa 'We saw the last two British and Irish Lions Tests, how well they started to gel together,' said Nche. 'I think they will definitely be looking forward to this Test and I think they will be up for it. I think they will start to focus on getting all those pieces and gel together.' While South Africa top the current World Rugby rankings to go with their 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup titles, Australia are down in sixth. Still, Nche insisted their foes were back on the rise. 'They have improved a lot because there are a lot of new good combinations and a lot of players that have also played together for a while. I think they are going to be a good challenge. 'I definitely think their setpiece has improved a lot. We saw two British and Irish Tests, they have good combinations as I said. 'You have a guy like Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell, you saw how big they were for them and as well. They have a very solid pack, even the guys coming off the bench. Come lineout time as well, they're gelling. They compete very well, they win most of their balls. I think they've actually gotten the right combinations together.' The match kicks off at 5.10pm. @Michael_Sherman IOL Sport

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