South Africa finds deliverance from their replacements
Marx and Mbatha are the super-subs the world needs right now
Ah, deliverance. How sweet the sound. Less the banjo of the 1972 movie and more the swish of substitutes coming on to do what substitutes do best – fix things.
On Friday and Tuesday, in Orlando and Juba, Thalente Mbatha was that man for Bafana Bafana. His first goal for his country, a debut goal five minutes in the 94th minute earned a draw against Uganda and came at his home stadium just as the weekend had begun.
His second, a composed, accurate strike with 95 minutes having passed and the score 2-2 against South Sudan on Tuesday, came on the artificial turf of the Juba Stadium. South Africa have not qualified for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, but these two flawed matches brought four vital points. Their fate is in their hands.
The incomparable Malcom Marx deserves more than being a super-sub, but, man, he is so damn good at it. His try in the 73rd minute in Cape Town to put the Boks 18-12 ahead on Saturday was his 20th for the Springboks. He now has 100 points and is in 10th place on the all-time Springbok try-scoring list with James Small.
He could be the starting hooker for the Boks, but he and Bongi Mbonambi offer a yin and yang option in the number two jersey, a starter and a finisher. Mbonambi is the softener of scrums and backlines; Marx is the blade that prises open the oyster shell of the breakdown, coming up from the depths with the oval pearl, the spear that arcs through gaps from the maul for tries. He is the impact player’s impact player. Under “impact” in the dictionary there is a picture of Marx.
Despite spending a large part of his international career coming off the bench, there has always been an argument for Marx to be called the best hooker in the world. It would take something special to unseat him.
In 2003, he was the most accurate hooker in Test rugby. “Marx found a teammate from 36 of 37 lineout throws in 2023 and his 97% success rate was the best of any player in men's Test rugby in 2023 (minimum 25 throws). This was ahead of Wales’ Elliot Dee (94%), Los Pumas captain Julian Montoya (93%) and Peato Mauvaka (93%) of France,” stated Opta, the sports stats boffins.
In 2023, added Opta, Marx “had turned over or disrupted 31% of the defensive rucks he hit in 2023, the best rate of any men’s player in all competitions (minimum 100 rucks hit).”
When he does start, Marx does not disappoint. His 50th cap was a start against the All Blacks at Mbombela in 2022.
“One of the most famous decisions from Jacques Nienaber is that of deploying world-class hooker Malcolm Marx to lead the ‘bomb squad;’ into battle,” wrote Will Owen on RugbyPass. “Marx is arguably the number one hooker in the men’s game, and undoubtedly in the top three, but Nienaber’s decision to regularly introduce him from the bench is inspired. He is the perfect man to punish tired oppositions from the back of mauls and the bottom of rucks.
“While Marx will be content as an impact sub in Nienaber’s system, you have to question whether you can limit performances like that to a mere 35 minutes. Marx was exceptional from the start.”
Owen takes each of the turnovers performed by Marx in that match and analyses them. This was the one in the 52nd minute and, as Owen wrote, was the most “freakish”.
“Ball carrier Ardie Savea originally bounces off tackler Jasper Wiese, but Wiese chops him on the second attempt. As Savea drops to the floor, Marx doesn’t immediately contest, and it is overlooked by David Havili clearing out on the right-hand side.
“With (prop George) Bower slow to the breakdown once more, Marx latches onto Savea as he is his teammate. Given Savea is still working his way to the floor, Marx can manipulate where he falls and, more importantly, how he presents the ball. Given he has latched into the gap between Savea and Bower, Marx is in control of this breakdown.
“Marx rags Savea’s body around on the floor and survives the efforts of Bower and Havili to clear him out. Savea can’t present the ball cleanly, so just does whatever he can to present it back. As it happens, Marx’s hands are in position once again to steal it. His upper body strength is one thing, but his reaction times are next level.
“This turnover came in the 52nd minute when the Boks were 13-3 up. If the All Blacks scored from that position, they certainly would have been back in contention.”
Marx could well be the starting hooker against Argentina on September 14 in Santiago. It would be his 72ndcap. He is the man who brings deliverance.