Marx sticks up for the maul

As debate rages over the rolling maul’s place in the game, Springbok and world’s best player Malcolm Marx stresses that it is not just about him falling over the tryline.

Rassie Erasmus’ world champions have been criticised after scoring five of their nine tries through rolling mauls in last week’s 66-7 demolition of Italy. The 95-cap Marx bagged a brace that took him to 31 Test tries, the most by a South African forward.

Writing for The Telegraph, former England hooker Brian Moore also argued that last week’s Nations Championship matches proved it is now too easy to score from mauls.

Marx was quizzed about the issue ahead of Friday night’s clash against France in Paris.

MORE: Rassie hails new maul application

“The guys that set the maul in the front, they do most of the work, and the guys behind them,” he said on Tuesday. “I’m just the one at the back that pops up with the ball.

“It’s not just me falling over the line at the end. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into it before we get over the line.

“And with regards to the laws … We can’t try and change things in our favour. The quicker we can adapt to it, the better it will be.”

Marx addressed South Africa’s dominance over Les Bleus – the Boks have won five straight Tests at the Stade de France since 2013, including the quarter-final victory at the 2023 World Cup. France have beaten South Africa only once in the last 10 meetings.

MATFIELD: French hatred awaits Boks

“They obviously felt that they should have been in the final,” he added. “It does leave a bit of a scar.

“If that’s the way their mentality is and the way that they want to approach the game, that’s their decision.

“We can only control the way that we prepare and the way that we approach the game.”

Marx discussed his Bulls move next season, which will bring the two-time World Cup winner back home after seven years in Japan.

PLUS: How Heyneke changed Marx’s trajectory

“I’ve been away from home for a good number of years now, and the reason for coming back was just to spend more time with my family,” he said.

The 32-year-old, too, was asked whether he feels the weight of expectation as the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year.

“It doesn’t matter what you’ve won or achieved. It [also] doesn’t add extra pressure because I know that was last year, and this weekend we’ve got another big challenge.”

Photo: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images