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Malcolm Marx, talonneur recordman d’essais des Springboks

TOPSHOT - Frans Malherbe (G), Malcolm Marx (2e D) et Ox Nche (D) de l'Afrique du Sud contestent le ballon à l'Australie lors du match du Rugby Championship entre l'Australie et l'Afrique du Sud au Suncorp Stadium de Brisbane le 10 août 2024. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTREINTE A L'USAGE EDITORIAL - STRICTEMENT PAS D'USAGE COMMERCIAL -- (Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)

Le talonneur des Springboks – Malcolm in the Middle – confirme ce qui se démontre de plus en plus dans le rugby moderne : les talonneurs aussi sont de formidables marqueurs d’essais.

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Il n’y a qu’à voir Peato Mauvaka, auteur de 13 essais cette saison dont neuf pour le Stade Toulousain. En Pro D2, c’est Elia Elia, le talonneur samoan, qui a affolé les compteurs de l’USON Nevers Rugby avec 13 réalisations. Outre-manche, George McGuigan avait cumulé 18 essais lors de la saison 2021/2022 avec Newcastle.

Ce samedi 17 août à Perth, Malcolm Marx est à son tour entré dans l’histoire. Grâce à son doublé contre l’Australie (victoire 30-12) – alors qu’il n’est rentré qu’à la 45e minute – il a poussé son total à 19 essais sur la scène internationale, devenant le premier joueur de première-ligne en Afrique du Sud à compter autant d’essais.

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Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx speaks about scrum battle

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Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx speaks about scrum battle

Le talonneur de 30 ans aux 69 sélections qui n’a jamais quitté l’Afrique du Sud est désormais à cinq points de devenir le premier avant des Springboks à inscrire 100 points en rugby international.

Peut-être un rappel de ses débuts dans le rugby où il jouait troisième-ligne lorsqu’il a commencé à pratiquer dans ses jeunes années dans la prestigieuse King Edward VII School (KES) de Johannesburg. Le voyant prendre de l’épaisseur et de la puissance, ses coachs l’avaient alors fait progressivement avancer dans le pack.

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Déjà il y a dix ans, pour son premier – et seul – match avec les U20, il avait marqué un essai (victoire contre l’Ecosse 61-5). Il a depuis gagné sa place au sein de la stratégie « Bomb Squad » de Rassie Erasmus, débutant 34 de ses 69 sélections sur le banc.

Cette stratégie consiste à maintenir sur le banc certains des joueurs les plus puissants, athlétiques et, d’après certains, les plus talentueux, jusqu’à la mi-deuxième mi-temps, lorsque l’adversaire, épuisé, a encore moins de chances de les stopper.

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Une stratégie encore payante à Perth sous la pluie face à des Australiens désemparés, ce samedi 17 août. Il a apporté son jeu de puissance et, avec des mêlées non contestées, il a joué un jeu plus ouvert. Le jeune papa d’un petit Jake Justin (né le 6 juin à 4,14 kg – en plus d’une petite fille de deux ans aujourd’hui) a été récompensé par deux essais après de puissants groupés pénétrants.

Une performance d’autant plus remarquable qu’il y a tout juste un mois, Erasmus révélait que Marx avait subi « une petite fracture du tibia » au cours du match contre l’Irlande (défaite 24-25 des Boks au Hollywoodbets Kings Park) du 13 juillet.

Pourtant, le talonneur avait continué à jouer malgré cette blessure. Ce coup dur intervenait après une longue blessure au genou qui l’avait amené à déclarer forfait au début de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 en France.

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« Considéré comme l’un des meilleurs talonneurs au monde, Marx a récemment été désigné par Nick Mallett, l’ancien entraîneur des Springboks, comme le meilleur talonneur du moment », écrivait RugbyPass en 2018.

« Avec ses 1,89 m et ses 114 kg, Marx est une véritable force de la nature, combinant puissance physique et rapidité. Son jeu est complet, sans faiblesse apparente, bien que l’usure du corps et les blessures, inévitables dans le rugby moderne, restent une source de préoccupation. » C’est toujours le cas.

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Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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