Nick Mallett has questioned why Rassie Erasmus would want to use Malcolm Marx at flank against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday.
The world’s best hooker has been named on the bench for the one-off Test, with Johan Grobbelaar, who has 10 caps, getting a rare opportunity to start.
Speaking at Tuesday’s team announcement, Erasmus discussed what he expected from No 8 Marco van Staden and a revamped front row.
“[Deon Fourie] playing three Test matches in a row at the age of 39, Grobbies deserves a chance now,” Erasmus said.
“Even later in the game, if Ox Nché comes on, Jan-Hendrik might move to hooker, and we’ve been trying Malcolm on the flank as well.
“We’re trying to save the bodies, and manage the guys while winning but also building some squad depth.”
ICYMI: Erasmus earmarks new role for Marx
Mallett challenged Erasmus’ thinking behind it.
“I’m surprised that they would think of moving Marx to flank. I mean, why?” the former Bok coach said on the Talking Boks podcast.
“He’s our best hooker. Just keep him at hooker, get him off the field, get another guy on and keep him safe and sound.
“In my view, we really need to prolong his career because there isn’t someone bashing that door down just yet.”
Erasmus has made 13 changes to the starting XV that beat the All Blacks in Baltimore for Sunday’s Test, including a new front row of loosehead Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Grobbelaar and tighthead Zachary Porthen. Ox Nché, Marx and Thomas du Toit provide experienced cover from the bench.
“We’re starting Jan-Hendrik Wessels at loosehead,” Mallett said. “We’ve been speaking him up as a hooker, maybe to take over from Marx. So is that also to work on a hybrid, to see whether he can really front up in an international game as a loosehead for the first 40 minutes at least?
“Zach Porthen, last time he played [in the first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at Ellis Park], he was put under pressure by the All Blacks front row. They didn’t put our front row under pressure in the rest of the Test match.
“So that’s a scrummaging lesson that he would have learned, and I think it’s probably getting him back in the saddle a little bit and saying, ‘OK, get back into international rugby. Let’s make sure that your improvement as a scrummager, you’ve retained it and that we can count on you. Because your general play is outstanding.’
“If you look at those front three, they are very good in the tight-loose, all three of them. It’s the scrummaging aspect that there’ll be a question mark around.
“We’ve certainly got backup. If our scrum is not working, we’ve got a solution on the bench.”
DUANE: We’ll have a game on our hands
Mallett acknowledged there was an element of risk in making so many changes but believes Sunday represents an important opportunity for fringe players.
“We can never talk about a Bok A team, B team or C team,” he said. “It’s about getting three players in each position who can ensure that the Boks will still play at the same level no matter who plays in those positions.
“A number of these players are going in a bit green, and we saw what happened in our first Test against the All Blacks when we went in without having played together.
“So there is a risk to this, but I think it’s counterbalanced by the fact that Australia aren’t New Zealand. They are seventh in the world.
“We’re having a look to see whether these players who’ve been selected are up to matching, away from home, a team that’s hosting the World Cup. It’s a big ask. Let’s not dodge it. I think it’s a very big ask.
“But these guys will be incredibly motivated to show Rassie that he mustn’t forget about them when he puts that squad together for the 2027 World Cup.”
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
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