A regular member of the Boks’ Bomb Squad, Malcolm Marx is widely regarded as one of the best hookers in the game.
While he is a fantastic athlete, comfortably in the build of a modern front-rower, he is one of the few players to feature in Erasmus’ squad who is well and truly a specialist in one position.
The Springboks have prided themselves on versatility in recent years, notably during the Rugby World Cup when flankers Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden both filled Marx’s void at hooker following his injury during the pool stages.
Fourie would also go on to play much of the final against New Zealand after an injury to Bongi Mbonambi.
Malcolm sticks to the middle of the front row
While he is the most notable example, he is not the only one with scrum-half Faf de Klerk playing some fly-half during the pool stages while fellow number nine Grant Williams started on the wing.
Versatility is particularly important for the Springboks considering the make-up of the bench, with Erasmus regularly backing 6-2 and 7-1 splits, meaning that forwards will have to cover in the backline while utility backs are also crucial.
But for Marx, he is pleased that Erasmus and his coaching team haven’t asked him to shift from his position in the front row even though his breakdown expertise could prove useful on the side of the scrum.
“No, I haven’t been considered anywhere else, to be honest,” Marx told the Aotearoa Rugby Podcast.
“I’m just going to stick at two, I don’t think they want to put me lock or loose forward; it’s going to benefit them in any way.
“It’s never really been a discussion [to play flank], obviously, you got your more dynamic guys like Kwagga Smith and Pieter-Steph du Toit that can cover wing and that, but I’ve never really been part of the conversation in moving from two to a loose forward or to the backs at all which I’m actually thankful about. The amount of running those backs do is actually eye-opening.”
Tony Brown’s influence
While the Springboks have stuck to largely the same tactics with the make-up and use of the bench, in 2024 there was a notable way in which the team attacked following the addition of ex-All Blacks fly-half Tony Brown.
Marx has been impressed by Brown’s approach to coaching, which has allowed players to ‘use their circus acts’ more in games.
“He’s a great coach and the way he thinks about the game, especially attack-wise is awesome,” he said.
“He is giving the guys a lot more opportunity to express themselves, not that we didn’t have that in the past, Felix Jones was also a great attack coach, obviously, he coaches differently from the way Tony does.
“But I think the guys have got a bit more ability now to express themselves and sort of use their strengths on attack with the way that he wants us to play.
“It’s obviously brought a different dynamic to how we attack but also thinking outside the box with certain things and giving guys that opportunity to use their circus act – if I can put it that way. It’s been awesome to see how it’s evolved.”
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/malcolm-marx-reveals-the-springboks-conversation-he-has-gladly-never-been-part-of
