Nyakane was first named in the Springbok squad ahead of the 2013 mid-year rugby union tests.

[5] He made his international debut on 8 June as a 73rd minute replacement for Tendai Mtawarira in South Africa's 44-10 victory over Italy in Durban.

[10] Nyakane was included in the South Africa A team to face the British and Irish Lions as a warm up match.

Nyakane started at tighthead prop for the opening test of the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

[11] Nyakane was also part of the Bomb Squad in the 2019 World Cup based on the 6/2 split of the bench and in 2023 was also an inaugural member of the Nuke Squad based on a 7/1 split of the bench when the Springboks gave the All Blacks their worst loss in modern day rugby history 35-7 at Twickenham, just before the 2023 World Cup.