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Cape Town - Springbok star Malcolm Marx believes he has a long way to go before he can be compared to some of the great Test hookers in world rugby.
Marx, 23, was one of the standout performers in the Springbok team in 2017 - a year in which the Boks won seven out of 13 Tests.
The 14-Test capped hooker has already been compared to Springbok great Bismarck du Plessis, but Marx says he wants to be remembered more for his own heroics.
“Bismarck is a fantastic player and a great Springbok and although it’s nice to be compared to him, I am pretty much my own man. I have a long road to walk still, but can learn a lot from his and other Springboks’ examples and their rugby journey,” Marx said in an interview with Springbok Magazine.
One of Marx’s “heroic” performances came in the Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks at Newlands - a game the Boks narrowly lost 25-24.
It was an improvement from their record 57-0 loss to New Zealand in Albany earlier in the competition.
“We wanted to show that the loss (against New Zealand) in Albany don’t define us as a team,” Marx continued. “Each player knew we had a responsibility to react and to play much better against the best team in the world. We also owed it to our supporters to show we are capable of playing much better.”
Marx was so impressive in the Test at Newlands that a New Zealand website even awarded him a full 10 out of 10 in their player ratings.
The official stats showed that Marx made 92m from 13 carries, made two tackle breaks, one of which resulted in a try to Jean-Luc du Preez, and scored a try himself from a rolling maul.
Marx also won four turnovers on the ground and made 15 tackles.
“Turnovers are vital and I don’t practice any special skills, I just compete as hard and as best as I can at the breakdown and in any other area of play,” Marx said.
Marx also stressed the importance of being disciplined at Test level.
“I always strive to play hard but fair and not to let my team down with a lack of discipline. At Test level you pay a big price for conceding penalties because teams are looking for scoreboard pressure all the time.”
