Malcolm Marx: All of South Africa Is Our Fortress

Malcolm Marx does not need to be asked twice about pressure. The SA Rugby Player of the Year and two-time World Cup winner addressed the media this week ahead of Saturday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener at Ellis Park, and his message was simple, direct and unmistakably Springbok: the fortress is not a stadium. It is a country.

South Africa's Fortress Mentality

"I think the whole of South Africa is our fortress, to be honest. It doesn't matter where we play or who we're playing against," the 32-year-old hooker said. "We know we're not just representing ourselves. We've got 64, 65 million people that we're trying to represent, and we want to represent them the best we can on the day."

It was a pointed response. The question had teeth — Ellis Park has been breached twice in recent memory, by the All Blacks in 2022 and by the Wallabies last year. Marx did not sidestep it. He reframed it entirely. That is the mentality you want from a starting hooker walking into a fixture of this magnitude, and it is why Malcolm Marx remains the heartbeat of this Springbok pack.

Set-Piece Battle Will Decide Match

His word of warning on the scrum was equally no-nonsense. Whatever happened in previous Tests at set-piece carries no weight on Saturday. "We know the All Blacks will obviously come after us at the scrum. We can't rely on what's happened in the past to take us through this game," he said. That is an honest read. Dave Rennie's side have shown real cohesion on this tour — they put 59 points on the Sharks and 50 on the Bulls — and their forward unit will arrive at Ellis Park with plenty of confidence.

The breakdown battle is the other contest that will define this match, and Marx was predictably tight-lipped about the Boks' tactical approach there. "I don't think I'll tell you how we'll try and stay on top of it!" he laughed. "We're doing a lot of analysis and seeing where we can be better, and the threats they bring in that aspect of the game." Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones has already flagged the All Blacks' physical approach at the breakdown — the intel from the URC contingent who faced them earlier on this tour has clearly informed the preparation.

Marx also spoke about his counterpart across the scrum, All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor. The respect was genuine. "He's a great player. We have a laugh and a beer after the game, but we both know that on the day we've both got a job to do. All explosive players, very explosive. Good with ball in hand, good in defence and obviously great at set-piece." Taylor is the benchmark at international hooker level outside of Marx himself — this is one of the most compelling individual duels the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series will serve up.

No Excuses for Either Team

There will be no complaints about altitude or conditions. "Everything's the same for both sides. Whatever the occasion is and whatever comes on Saturday, we've just got to man up and give the best we can on the day." On the haka, Marx kept it brief: respect it first, then lock in on your first job. He added with a knowing grin that he does fix his gaze on one specific All Black as the haka unfolds — and declined to name him.

With Siya Kolisi and Thomas du Toit carrying injury doubts into the week, as covered in our Kolisi and Nché injury update, the Boks need their senior leaders to set the tone. Marx, subject to selection, is exactly that. South Africa and New Zealand kick off at 17:00 SAST on Saturday at Emirates Airline Park.