Nyakane: I’ll play lock if I have to

Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane says he will play lock if that’s what is required from him in the Green and Gold.

Starting his career as a loosehead prop, Nyakane was moved to tighthead where he played over the last few years.

But with Ox Nche having suffered an injury that ruled him out of last week’s second Test against the British and Irish Lions, Nyakane was dropped to the bench to provide cover at loosehead after starting the series at No.3.

The front row passed the test last weekend as he helped the Boks avenge their 22-17 defeat in the first Test with a 27-9 reverse to set up the series decider.

Ahead of Saturday’s final match, Nyakane says of swapping sides: “For me, whenever I put on the Springbok jersey and whatever number it is, as a front row you know there is a job that you need to do.”

Asked about the adjustment he had to make, Nyakane says: “From a technical perspective, there are a lot of different things that happen there. It was a bit challenging for me to move back, the last time I think I played on the loosehead was 2016.

“Moving from tighthead to loosehead was a bit challenging – but I got a lot of help from Ox [Nche] and Kitsie [Steven Kitshoff] – guys who have been playing loosehead in last three years, so I went into the game confident enough that we’ve done the preparation and done the work.”

When asked which position he prefers, Nyakane signs off: “Right now I’m on loosehead and that’s what the team needs – it’s nothing about Trevor, it’s all about the Green and Gold.

“Even if they want to put me at lock.

“The coaches are not going to ask you for miracles, they will ask you for things they know you can do.”

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