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Rassie unleashes Malcolm Marx flank Masterplan

Adnaan MohamedNews, Preview, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Rassie unleashes Malcolm Marx flank Masterplan
By Adnaan Mohamed

Rassie ready to unleash World Player of the Year in new role against Wallabies

Rassie Erasmus is cooking up another Springbok surprise, and this one could see the World Player of the Year, Malcolm Marx, packing down far from his usual hunting ground.

Erasmus continues to redefine squad management, introducing 13 changes for the Test against Australia while building leadership depth through Andre Esterhuizen’s appointment as captain.

Malcolm Marx has been named among the replacements for Sunday’s showdown with Australia in Perth, but Erasmus has revealed the wrecking-ball hooker could be unleashed at flank when he storms onto the field.

Yes, flank.

The revelation adds serious spice to an already radically reshuffled Bok pack as Erasmus attempts to keep his warriors fresh while building the depth he believes will be crucial at the next World Cup.

“Even later in the game, if Ox Nché comes on, Jan-Hendrik might move to hooker, and we’ve been trying Malcolm on the flank as well,” Erasmus said.

That means Marx could swap the No 2 jersey for the loose-forward trenches, where his ferocious carrying, physicality and breakdown work could give the Wallabies another headache.

And if that sounds like classic Rassie rugby roulette, it is.

The Boks have also thrown another curveball at No 8, with Marco van Staden packing down at the back of the scrum alongside Elrigh Louw and Paul de Villiers.

But Erasmus made it clear that Van Staden’s biggest assignment is not wearing the traditional No 8 hat.

“There’s not a specific role for the eighthman apart from scrumming,” the Bok boss said.

The real battlefield will be the breakdown.

“If you take Paul, Marco, Elrigh, Jasper [Wiese] if he comes on, André Esterhuizen and others, I think the breakdown battle is going to be massive.

“Marco will have a massive impact there. Like Fraser McReight and the guys in their team, there are certainly guys who can disrupt a defensive breakdown. They’re really good at that and hopefully Marco can help sort that out for us.”

With Australia boasting breakdown pests of their own, Van Staden has been handed the dirty-work job.

The Boks have also built a safety net should the pack start falling apart.

If Louw or De Villiers are forced off, Franco Mostert can move into the loose-forward mix, while captain André Esterhuizen can shift to either blindside or openside.

Then there is Jasper Wiese, waiting in the wings for his 50th Test cap.

Jasper Wiese will earn his 50th Springbok cap from the bench Photo: X.com

Erasmus admitted he would have preferred to start the powerful No 8, but wanted insurance on the bench if the new-look starting combination hits turbulence.

“We’d have loved to start Jasper, but we need some security on the bench,” he said.

“We’re sure the guys who are going to start are going to be a little bit energetic and haven’t played for a while. There might be some combination hiccups.”

Up front, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Zachary Porthen will pack down either side of hooker Johan Grobbelaar.

The selections are part of Erasmus’ bigger body-management operation, with Grobbelaar getting his opportunity after Deon Fourie played three Tests in succession at 39.

“[Deon Fourie] playing three Test matches in a row at the age of 39, Grobbies deserves a chance now.”

Erasmus also stressed that Wessels and Grobbelaar have experience against Australia, adding another layer to the selection gamble.

“We’re trying to save the bodies, and manage the guys while winning but also building some squad depth.”

In Perth, therefore, the Boks are not merely taking a hammer to the Wallabies.

They are sharpening every blade in the toolbox.

And if Marx really does appear at flank, Australia could discover that Rassie’s bench has teeth in places nobody expected.

Sunday’s contest, kicking off at 11:45 SA time on SuperSport, is more than another Test. It is another examination of Erasmus’ greatest creation: a Springbok system where stars rest, leaders emerge and the conveyor belt never stops moving.

SPRINGBOKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 André Esterhuizen (c), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Quan Horn.

Springboks hold off All Blacks in Soweto thriller

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, Features, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springboks hold off All Blacks in Soweto thriller
Adnaan Mohamed at FNB Stadium, Soweto

The Springboks survived a fierce challenge from the All Blacks to win 29-24 at FNB Stadium on Saturday night, securing an unassailable lead in the four-Test series in front of a crowd of nearly 90 000.

It was a high-quality Test played at considerable pace, with both sides scoring four tries and momentum shifting repeatedly during a compelling contest.

For Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, the victory was another significant milestone. His 55th Test win as captain moved him clear as the most successful skipper in Springbok history.

New Zealand made the stronger start.

With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the sin bin after being shown yellow for a deliberate knock-down, All Black captain Ardie Savea finished a sustained period of pressure by crashing over in the 10th minute.

Ruben Love missed the conversion, leaving New Zealand with a 5-0 lead.

The Boks responded through their traditional strengths: physical carries, quick ball and pressure at set piece.

Cheslin Kolbe finished a well-worked attack 10 minutes later, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting to give South Africa a 7-5 lead. Kolbe was subsequently forced off for a head-injury assessment.

South Africa’s scrum then became an increasingly important factor.

The Boks applied sustained pressure against the New Zealand pack and were rewarded with a penalty try four minutes before half-time, extending their lead to 14-5.

New Zealand responded strongly after the break.

Savea scored his second try before Will Jordan added another, with Love converting to put the visitors 17-14 ahead.

The Boks needed a response and found it through Jesse Kriel.

The centre broke through the All Blacks’ defensive line to score, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu adding the conversion as South Africa regained the lead at 21-17.

Malcolm Marx then increased the pressure by powering over for the Boks’ fourth try.

A further penalty from Feinberg-Mngomezulu put South Africa 29-17 ahead and appeared to give the hosts sufficient breathing room.

New Zealand had other ideas.

The All Blacks continued to attack deep into the closing stages and replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scored after the final hooter. Damian McKenzie converted to reduce the deficit to five points, although there was no time for a further attack.

The 29-24 result completed the Boks’ series victory and extended their dominance in one of Test rugby’s defining rivalries.

Ethan Hooker was named Player of the Match after an influential performance for South Africa.

There is little time for either side to reflect.

The Springboks and All Blacks will board a chartered flight to Baltimore in the United States, where they will meet again in the fourth and final Test next week.

Earlier at FNB Stadium, New Zealand’s Black Ferns produced a commanding display to beat the Springbok Women 52-20.

The visitors scored eight tries and led 24-10 at half-time in the first meeting between the teams on African soil.

The result highlighted the Black Ferns’ experience and attacking efficiency, while the Springbok Women were unable to convert their dominance in certain areas, including the scrum, into sufficient attacking points.

For South Africa’s men, however, the night belonged to the Boks, who absorbed New Zealand’s pressure, capitalised on their set-piece advantage and held their nerve when the All Blacks launched their late assault.

SPRINGBOKS – Tries: Kurt-Lee Arendse, penalty try, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
ALL BLACKS – Tries: Ardie Savea (2), Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho. Conversions: Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie.

Image Credit: x.com/Springboks

Springbok Stars Dominate World Rugby Awards Nominations

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springbok Stars Dominate World Rugby Awards Nominations
By Adnaan Mohamed

South Africa’s rugby powerhouse flexed its muscles again this week as four Springboks crashed through the global recognition line like flankers hitting a ruck at full tilt.

Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche and rising star Ethan Hooker were all shortlisted for major honours at the 2026 World Rugby Awards announced on Tuesday.

Du Toit, already etched in history as the first South African to win the World Men’s 15s Player of the Year twice, is once more in the running for the sport’s highest individual accolade. He is joined by teammates Marx and Nche as well as France’s electric winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Marx earns his second career nomination after also being recognised in 2018.

Hooker, meanwhile, finds himself in the global limelight as one of four nominees for World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, lining up alongside New Zealand’s Fabian Holland, England’s Henry Pollock and Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander praised the quartet’s impact, saying:

“I’d like to congratulate Pieter-Steph, Malcolm, Ox and Ethan for being recognised among the best players in the world.”

He added: “To have three of the four nominees for Men’s 15s Player of the Year from South Africa, as well as Ethan in the Breakthrough category, is a testament to the quality of our players on the global stage.”

Alexander said the recognition reflected the green-and-gold’s consistency and class:
“They have all performed exceptionally well this season and deserve this recognition. On behalf of SA Rugby and the entire country, I want to express how proud we are of them.”

He concluded with a message of encouragement ahead of the final announcement:

“We wish them well ahead of Saturday’s announcement. Regardless of the outcome, being nominated is already a remarkable achievement.”

Only Schalk Burger (2004), Bryan Habana (2007) and Du Toit himself have previously lifted the prestigious World Rugby Player of the Year crown. Other South Africans nominated over the past decade include Willie le Roux, Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk and Lukhanyo Am.

The winners will be announced on Saturday, 22 November, with World Rugby’s Dream Team of the Year set to follow on Tuesday, 25 November.