The Springboks will play in their penultimate warm-up match on Saturday when they face Wales in Cardiff, and for the former Cheetahs prop it will be his first Test of the year when he comes on from the bench.

Nche was meant to play against the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld, but he was a late withdrawal from the team due to a chest injury.

Nche tore his pectoral muscle while in the gym and since then he has been on the mend and unable to play.

Nche who will be playing the World Cup for the first time said when it comes to doing the rehabilitation after an injury, more work has to be put in than the other players.

“They're also practising every single day, having rugby sessions, and sorting out their rugby intensity and an injured player, you have to do more.

“You have to come back fitter because you can be running fit and stronger, but the rugby collisions and match loads will never be the same, no matter how hard you train.

“You have to train two times harder, do more sessions, and get better.

The ever smiling front-rower added that going up, rugby was never something that he thought would be a career as his focus was on his academics and he only started playing the sport at the age of 13.

“I only took up rugby when I was in Grade 7 - I was an academic who played a bit of sport for fun - it was never something I took seriously.

“If you asked me as a kid if I would ever be part of a World Cup squad, I would have said no.

“It shows that if you do love something and you work hard enough on it, you can get to where you need to be.”

Saturday's Test between Wales and the Springboks at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff kicks off at 16:05.

Wales - 15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Corey Domachowski.

Replacements - 16 Sam Parry, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Cai Evans.

Springboks - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements - 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Duane Vermeulen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport