Malcolm Marx Credits Springbok Forwards for His Record-Breaking Try Tally

Malcolm Marx is quick to share the credit for his growing try-scoring record, pointing to the hard work of his Springbok teammates rather than his own finishing. The hooker scored twice in South Africa’s 66-7 win over Italy in Turin, taking his Test try total to 31 and moving into fifth place on the country’s all-time list. Only Bryan Habana, Joost van der Westhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi and Jaque Fourie have scored more tries for South Africa. But Marx said the milestone was not something he was pursuing for its own sake. As he explained, his priority is getting the ball over the line when it helps the team. Much of his scoring comes from South Africa’s powerful rolling maul, a weapon that has attracted criticism and debate among northern hemisphere commentators. Marx said the players setting the maul at the front do most of the heavy lifting, while he often receives the ball at the back. He said it would feel wrong to claim all the credit for tries built through that collective effort. The remarks came as the Springboks prepared to face France at the Stade de France. French talk of revenge has featured heavily ahead of the match, with the home side still carrying the memory of their narrow 29-28 defeat to South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Marx said the French team could approach the fixture however it chose, but South Africa would focus on its own preparation. He also addressed debate about the maul’s legality and changing interpretations of the laws, saying the team’s approach was to adapt quickly to how referees were applying the rules rather than try to influence them.