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Cape Town - Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is excited at the prospect of seeing hooker Malcolm Marx playing against the All Blacks.
Marx was on Thursday included on the Springbok bench for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test in Christchurch.
He replaces Bongi Mbonambi and will make his Test debut if he takes to the field at AMI Stadium.
Coetzee believes Marx’s stellar performances against New Zealand teams in this year's Super Rugby competition will stand him in good stead.
“Malcolm is a great player and he showed it in Super Rugby. He’s played against all the New Zealand franchises and he has dominated his opposition in all the games he’s played,” Coetzee told SuperSport Blitz after naming his team.
“So it’s just reward for Malcolm to be included in the 23 this week and hopefully he can get his fair chance and show that.
“I think his general play is excellent, he’s a really physical boy and his scrummaging is also very good. We’re happy about his scrummaging at training sessions.
“Obviously, the lineout will put him under pressure and he’ll be tested there - which is the first and foremost requirement of a hooker- to throw in accurately. But I’m looking forward to seeing him play.”
Saturday’s Test is scheduled for 09:35 (SA time).
Teams:
New Zealand
15 Ben Smith 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 James Parsons, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Matt Todd, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown
South Africa
15 Johan Goosen, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Jaco Kriel, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Damian de Allende
