John Smit: Malcolm Marx is the best Springboks hooker ever
Current Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx and South Africa legend John Smit.
Legendary Springboks hooker John Smit has graciously conceded that Malcolm Marx is the greatest player to have ever worn the number two shirt for the country.
The 48-year-old former captain is arguably one of South Africa’s best-ever players, let alone front-rower, but he believes that he has been usurped by the current World Rugby Player of the Year.
Marx was utterly outstanding in Boks’ victory over the All Blacks at the weekend as they went 2-1 in front in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
‘No chinks in the armour’
“There are a couple of things about Malcolm that make him the best in the world, certainly the best that’s worn the number two shirt in South Africa, and I say that quite respectfully and quite gladly,” Smit said on the I Love Rugby podcast, which also featured Jim Hamilton and George Gregan.
“I’ve loved watching him play, I’ve loved what he can do for South Africa, but there’s a deeper reason.
“He’s a beast, he’s a monstrous man, he’s a big guy, he’s athletic. He’s fast, he carries well, he steals, he scrums and he’s got an unbelievable throw.
“There are no real chinks in the armour and what people don’t understand is over and above that, we’ve all played with some amazing rugby players and he’s a better human being than he is a rugby player, he’s just such a good guy.”
Marx will earn his 93rd cap for the Springboks in this weekend’s clash in Baltimore and looks set to reach his century ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
The 32-year-old will also eclipse Smit’s 111 appearances if he continues to play at this level with the hooker one of Rassie Erasmus’ most important players.
Such is Marx’s standing in the South African dressing room now, Smit believes that he is one of the individuals other players look up to before key matches.
An inspiration for the Springboks
“He’s good for the team; he’s the kind of guy that gets in there and serves the guys all the time. He’s providing a level of confidence,” he said.
“You sit in the changing room before a big Test match and you look around, and you say: ‘Jim Hamilton, I’m going to be okay’.
“Probably the first Test was the quietest we’ve seen him, he hadn’t played for a while, and I think he took that to heart, and he just got better and better and better.
“His influence, it’s not just the things he does, and I loved when he gave that [point to Luke Jacobson].
“The last thing I will say about Malcolm is… he must be the bane of existence for every opposition team that play against him, but I don’t think there’s one person in world rugby who doesn’t like him as a human.
“They can’t wait to have a beer with him afterwards, I think that says a lot about the guy.”
