Tonga prop Ben Tameifuna recently shared a memorable moment from his encounter with South Africa during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, reflecting on the respect he has for Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and his admiration for South African prop Ox Nche.
The clash between Tonga and South Africa marked the first time the two teams met in the tournament, and it was a tough battle for Tameifuna, particularly in the scrums. Tameifuna, who weighs 20 kilograms more than Nche, found himself up against the formidable South African prop in a fiercely contested scrum battle. Despite the weight advantage, Nche proved to be a powerful opponent, making the contest one of the toughest Tameifuna has experienced on the field. South Africa ultimately triumphed with a dominant 49-18 victory, but Tameifuna’s encounter with Nche left a lasting impression on him.
After the match, Tameifuna was keen on swapping jerseys with Nche, an opportunity he had hoped for after the intense scrummaging battle. However, his plans were thwarted when Siya Kolisi, the Springboks’ captain, expressed his desire to swap shirts first. Out of respect for Kolisi, Tameifuna agreed to give up his chance to exchange jerseys with Nche, allowing the South African captain to take the first pick. Although he was disappointed to miss the chance to acquire Nche’s jersey, Tameifuna expressed his admiration for both Kolisi and Nche, appreciating the qualities that made them such formidable opponents.
Tameifuna went on to praise Nche’s scrummaging ability, acknowledging the strength and power that the South African brought to the scrum. Despite his own considerable size, Tameifuna found himself struggling against Nche’s raw power. Reflecting on the experience, he recalled the sensation of the first scrum when he felt his spine “cluck, cluck, cluck” down his back, highlighting just how intense and physically demanding the battle was. Nche, known for his strength and solid scrummaging, left a deep impression on Tameifuna, who was quick to acknowledge that the South African prop is also impressively quick and agile for someone of his size.
While Tameifuna’s jersey swap moment was stolen by Kolisi, he was clearly still full of respect for both South African players. He described Nche as “quiet” off the field, a demeanor that contrasted with the intensity of his physicality during the match. Despite their fierce on-field rivalry, Tameifuna found Nche to be humble and composed after the game, a quality that added to his admiration for the Springboks’ prop.
However, Tameifuna also mentioned another player who holds a special place in his list of toughest opponents: All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock. He rated Woodcock as the strongest player he has ever faced, further illustrating the level of competition Tameifuna has encountered throughout his career.
Tameifuna’s story highlights the deep respect that exists between players at the highest level of rugby, where fierce competition is tempered by mutual admiration. The jersey swap moment serves as a reminder that, beyond the physical battles, rugby is a game built on respect, sportsmanship, and camaraderie among players, regardless of which team they represent.
