“A Whole Other Level”: Marx Reveals Springboks’ Plan To Stop All Blacks’ Breakdown Threat
Malcolm Marx knows better than most what it means to face the All Blacks. He made his Test debut against New Zealand and has experienced the unique challenge of taking on one of rugby’s greatest sides on the international stage more times than any other team he has faced.
For Marx, the current World Player of the Year, that first Test remains a special memory and marked the beginning of a childhood dream to represent South Africa.
The two-time World Cup winner made his Springbok debut against New Zealand on 8 October 2016, at Kings Park Stadium in Durban during the Rugby Championship.
“As a little boy, you always dream or hope to represent your country one day,” Marx said.
“At that stage, representing your country against the best team in the world, as they were back then, and getting to experience that at an international level was a whole other level.”
With the Springboks preparing for another highly anticipated encounter with their greatest rivals to kick-start Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at Ellis Park on Saturday, Marx could once again find himself at the heart of the contest.
Should he be selected, the experienced hooker intends to embrace the opportunity fully.
“If I’m selected for this weekend, then I’ll try and grab the opportunity with both hands and give everything that I can, not just for myself and my family, but for the country as well,” said the two-time SA Rugby Player of the Year.
While the significance of the series is impossible to ignore, Marx insists the Springboks have not altered their approach to their preparation.
The intensity may be high, but the mindset remains familiar.
“I wouldn’t say more intense, but we always say that we treat each Test match the same,” he explained.
“We know the magnitude of what Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is, and we know how big this weekend’s game is going to be, and we’re trying to play accordingly.”
One of the key battles is expected to take place at the breakdown, an area where Marx’s physicality and work rate could prove crucial, having consistently excelled in this facet of the game.
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has highlighted the threat posed by the All Blacks in this area, particularly with Dave Rennie’s influence on their breakdown tactics.
Marx was understandably reluctant to reveal too much about the Springboks’ plans.
“I don’t think I’ll tell you how we’ll try and stay on top of it,” he joked.
Behind the scenes, however, the Springboks have been working extensively on the breakdown, analysing both their own performances and the threats posed by New Zealand.
“We’re working really hard at it. We’re doing a lot of analysis and seeing where we can be better from previous games and seeing the threats that they bring in that aspect of the game,” Marx added.
The focus has been on addressing the finer details while ensuring the players are prepared for the small but significant elements the All Blacks bring to the breakdown.
“So we’re working really hard on the things that we need to improve on, bearing in mind the small things that they do around the breakdown,” he said.
With the Springboks having spent the past two weeks sharpening their preparation, Marx and his teammates are fully aware that success against New Zealand could hinge on winning the smallest battles.
