Nyakane opens up on 'challenging' move

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane admitted that it was a challenge making the switch from tighthead to loosehead in the scrum during the Lions series.

After establishing himself as an international tighthead prop over the last few years, the 32-year-old was asked to cover the loosehead position again off the bench in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions after Ox Nché was ruled out due to a neck injury.

Nyakane was one of the bench players who played a massive role in turning the tide in the second half of that Test with the hosts winning the match 27-9 after going into the break 6-9 down.

He will be covering the loosehead role again for the series decider on Saturday.

"It was a bit challenging to move to loosehead because I think the last time I played there was in 2016," said Nyakane.

"I’ve been playing tighthead for a few years now. Ox and Steven [Kitshoff] helped a lot, and the tightheads that we scrummaged against also gave me tips.

"As a group, we try to help each other, so the guys sat with me and so did the coaches and gave me pointers, and after training in the position I was confident in the build-up to the game.

"That said, credit must always go to the back five. We have so much firepower at the back that we [the front row] just have to concentrate on what we have to do."

'I’ll even play lock'

Nyakane said he was happy to play any position in the Bok team.

"In my younger days I was always a loosehead and there was a time at my union where we were short on tightheads and they asked me to cover the position.

"Back then I would have said I am a loosehead helping out as a tighthead.

"But that has changed over time. Two weeks ago, I would have said I am a full-on tighthead, but now it is about what the team needs and it is all about the green and gold.

"As a player, I’ll give everything.

"I’ll even play lock if I had to, even though I wouldn’t be a great jumper," he joked.