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Cape Town - Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane says he has more energy on the field after dropping 11kg.
Nyakane was axed from the Springbok group last year for disciplinary reasons but was recalled in June this year. He was also told to improve his fitness and after a change in diet the Cheetahs prop looks a different player.
"I weighed 128kg in June and I'm 117 now. Initially I cut carbohydrates, juices and soft drinks out of my diet, and consumed more meat," he told Die Burger.
"My energy levels are much higher and it feels good not to fall behind the pack when I jog with the team. A good diet is important for a guy like me because I pick up 2kg just looking at a cupcake!"
Nyakane revealed that his diet was prescribed by Springbok conditioning coach Basil Carzis.
Nyakane also lauded coach Heyneke Meyer for being honest with him and telling him what areas he needed to improve on.
He said losing 12kg has also not negatively influenced his scrummaging as his endurance has improved.
Nyakane is on the Springbok bench for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against Australia at Newlands (17:05 kick-off).
Teams:
South Africa:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 JP Pietersen
Australia:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper.
Substitutes: 16 James Hanson, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Nic White, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Rob Horne
Nyakane was axed from the Springbok group last year for disciplinary reasons but was recalled in June this year. He was also told to improve his fitness and after a change in diet the Cheetahs prop looks a different player.
"I weighed 128kg in June and I'm 117 now. Initially I cut carbohydrates, juices and soft drinks out of my diet, and consumed more meat," he told Die Burger.
"My energy levels are much higher and it feels good not to fall behind the pack when I jog with the team. A good diet is important for a guy like me because I pick up 2kg just looking at a cupcake!"
Nyakane revealed that his diet was prescribed by Springbok conditioning coach Basil Carzis.
Nyakane also lauded coach Heyneke Meyer for being honest with him and telling him what areas he needed to improve on.
He said losing 12kg has also not negatively influenced his scrummaging as his endurance has improved.
Nyakane is on the Springbok bench for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against Australia at Newlands (17:05 kick-off).
Teams:
South Africa:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 JP Pietersen
Australia:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper.
Substitutes: 16 James Hanson, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Nic White, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Rob Horne
