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How Malcolm Marx became the best hooker in world rugby

The Springboks have been blessed with a number of quality hookers since returning from the isolation wilderness. The starting hooker in the first Test after returning to international competition against the All Blacks on 15 August 1992 at Ellis Park was the hard-running, powerful Uli Schmidt.

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Since Schmidt there has been some genuine quality in the Springbok No 2 jersey including World Cup winning captain and Springbok legend John Smit. The in-your-face Bismarck Du Plessis was another in the traditional robust and powerful mould of Springbok hookers. Both Smit and Du Plessis added so much value to the national set-up both from a leadership point of view as well as at the set-piece and in the tight loose.

In Malcolm Marx there is a relatively new Springbok hooker who is making huge waves and could join the great names above as a Springbok stalwart. Marx moved to the front row from the flank during his high school years at King Edward VII School (KES). KES, which boasts numerous sporting legends including former SA Cricket captain Graeme Smith and Springbok flyer Bryan Habana now has a potential sporting legend-in-the-making in Malcolm Marx.

Marx who made the SA Schools squad in 2012 has been destined for big things since his schoolboy days and he has certainly come of age in the past 18 months. I recall seeing Marx play for the University of Johannesburg before he hit the big time and could not believe the size of the front-rower, he was impressive even in his early years on the rugby conveyor belt.

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The 24-year-old Lions frontrow recently earned his 50th Super Rugby cap and has been the go-to-guy for his franchise. He has scored 23 tries for the Lions at just below a try every second game, which is noteworthy for most players never mind a front row forward.

The Johannesburg-based side has played some expansive rugby over the past few Super Rugby seasons, especially from a South African point of view where they are traditionally more conservative from a playing style. Marx is well suited to the Lions style of play, he has a superb engine and his mobility around the park is unbelievable.

The young hooker made his debut for the Springboks in a tough 41-13 defeat to New Zealand in the 2016 Rugby Championship coming off the wood for captain Adriaan Strauss at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch. Since his debut the Germiston-born hooker’s progress was steady in finding his feet at international level.

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Lions and South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx

The 25-24 defeat against the All Blacks at Newlands in October 2017 was a major turning point in his career. Marx got through a mountain of work in the loose, found his jumpers with precision at lineout time and also got on the score sheet. Scribes from all over the world including New Zealand were raving about Marx’s performance. There was a new sheriff in town and Marx seems to have grown massively in confidence since this Test. At Newlands he showed he belongs at Test level.

There was uncertainty from a selection point of view in terms of who would be the starting No 2 for the Springboks over the past two-and-a-half years with Adriaan Strauss, Bismarck Du Plessis and a few others in the frame over this time. Over the past 12 months this debate has certainly been put to bed and Marx’s name will be one of the first on the team sheet, the rest will now be fighting for the reserve hooking position.

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A notable mention for Bongi Mbonambi in the series against England means that he will probably be the backup hooker after some good performances. There is the constant will-he-or-won’t-he surrounding Bismarck Du Plessis and his return to international duty. Du Plessis was recently called up to the Springbok squad for the England series before withdrawing due to injury.

While for some time there were calls for Du Plessis’ return from France by the South African public these are now a distant memory as Marx is seen as the man to definitely wear the Green and Gold number two jersey. He is among the leading hookers in the world and recently Nick Mallett, the well-respected former Springbok coach, stated that Marx is the best hooker in the world at present.

Marx who stands at 1.89 metres and 114 kilograms is a man-mountain in terms of size and has pace to burn for a big unit. There is no weakness in his game and the only concern would be wear and tear on the body and injuries, which are part of parcel of the modern game.

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In the early part of his Springbok career there was a little bit of concern around his throwing at lineout time, these concerns have well and truly been put to bed. His lineout throwing is well and truly of international standard and he is consistently hitting the mark. At scrum time he is extremely powerful and not often a front row with Marx in it goes backwards.

Marx has no peer in the hooking position when it comes to loose play, this refers to pilfering for the ball at ruck time where he has become a specialist in turning ball over and slowing ball down – it is like having a fourth loose forward. Once over the ball it is very rare to see him moved off it such is his power. Marx is a scary proposition with ball-in-hand and carries strongly, he also has the intelligence to distribute when the time is right.

He has the strength of an old school front rower and pace of a modern day flanker and the challenge now for Marx is two-fold. Firstly playing consistently well where he is the best hooker in world rugby, he is well and truly on the way to this if not there already. Secondly he needs to demand world-class standards from himself and his teammates and vice versa. This in turn will lead to positive results for the national side and he will certainly join the recent list of Springbok legends in the hooking position.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours 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
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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