Trevor Nyakane
Trevor Nyakane is firmly focused on making the most of a rare opportunity to start for the Springboks rather than the sideshows.
A tough week for the Springboks has been made even tougher by claims from COSATU that they had been approached by some black players who felt aggrieved that they were not getting sufficient opportunities under coach Heyneke Meyer.
However, Nyakane has dismissed the allegations and said that the key for him is to put the distractions aside so that he is able to put his best foot forward against Argentina in Buenos Aires this weekend in what is the last chance to impress before the Rugby World Cup.
“Whatever happens with all these COSATU things I put it aside and do what I need to do for the weekend.
“To us it is nothing, it is not true. We didn’t, I don’t know of anyone who could have done something like that as we speak, it is not like that.
“Those things are out there obviously and as a player we talk together and talk to each other to try and understand things.
“In weeks like this when it is Test week I try and keep my head focused on the game so that I can know my job and do my job when I get out there,” he said.
Having featured off the bench in The Rugby Championship, Nyakane is looking forward to showing what he can do in a rare start at loosehead against the highly-rated Pumas front row.
“Being back in the starting line-up is a privilege and an honour, 1st of all. It is what we work hard for week-in and week-out.
“I have to go out there and do my best, that is all I can give. It is a great opportunity if we can manage to do what we have planned and get it right obviously.
“It is definitely going to be a big scrum battle, we know they are a great scrumming side so it is a big challenge. If you want to be the best then you have to measure yourself against the best, they are very good and it will be a big challenge for us to go and prove ourselves.
“We are starting from what happened this weekend, from zero and working forward.
“What happened in the past weekend is over and you have to start again and show dominance when we get there,” he said.
He said that while he has shown that he can play on both sides of the scrum, he feels that loosehead is his best position and where he can make the most impact for the Springboks.
“Preferably loosehead is my position, if you are playing international rugby you don’t just move around if you want to.
“If I wanted to play tighthead I would have to put in a few sessions on the training field before I can just shift on because this is a different level of rugby and everyone is a specialist so you need to know what you are doing, you need to be precise.
“At this point in time I have been playing loosehead, that is what I have been doing on the training field so that is my preference,” he said.
Nyakane will line up alongside Bulls teammates Adriaan Strauss and Marcel van der Merwe in the front row this weekend, and he said that all 3 of them are hungry to show what they can offer.
“Playing with Adriaan and Marcel the confidence is ther but I have also got confidence when I am with Bismarck or anyone because we all train together.
“It does give me that settlement that I know exactly what the next person next to me is going to do so at this point in time it gives a bit of confidence but we have worked together for so long,” he said.
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