The Springboks’ lineout has often been the best in the world. We had Matfield for years, followed by other excellent jumpers who carried on that dominance. The lineout maul has long been the Boks’ most consistent try-scoring weapon—at its best, almost impossible to stop. Fortunately, the backs now contribute more tries, so the team is no longer as reliant on the maul as in the past.
Bongi was once the best lineout thrower in South Africa—better than Marx. However, around 2021, his accuracy began to decline.
At one point, he was the preferred starter, with his throws absolutely pinpoint, but by the 2023 World Cup, after Marx’s injury, the lineout had become a shambles. Bongi’s throwing was below average, and Deon Fourie off the bench struggled even more.
Marx seems capable of throwing well, but he doesn’t always appear to understand or make the lineout calls.
The current Boks' lineout is probably not even in the top 5 in the world at present. If this could be fixed, it would bring back the Boks' traditional main attacking threat. Hopefully, the reserve Hooker is not Bongi. He needs to be replaced, so at least 2 new hookers will get test experience by the World Cup.
In general, Marx needs to up his game. He is solid, but nothing compared to a few years ago.
At the moment, Eztebeth is the best lineout jumper, even though he is a tighthead lock. The throws to him seem to go as planned, but the back of the lineout is rarely used, and the middle is a shambles of confusion
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The Springboks’ lineout has often been the best in the world. We had Matfield for years, followed by other excellent jumpers who carried on that dominance. The lineout maul has long been the Boks’ most consistent try-scoring weapon—at its best, almost impossible to stop. Fortunately, the backs now contribute more tries, so the team is no longer as reliant on the maul as in the past.
Bongi was once the best lineout thrower in South Africa—better than Marx. However, around 2021, his accuracy began to decline.
At one point, he was the preferred starter, with his throws absolutely pinpoint, but by the 2023 World Cup, after Marx’s injury, the lineout had become a shambles. Bongi’s throwing was below average, and Deon Fourie off the bench struggled even more.
Marx seems capable of throwing well, but he doesn’t always appear to understand or make the lineout calls.
The current Boks' lineout is probably not even in the top 5 in the world at present. If this could be fixed, it would bring back the Boks' traditional main attacking threat. Hopefully, the reserve Hooker is not Bongi. He needs to be replaced, so at least 2 new hookers will get test experience by the World Cup.
In general, Marx needs to up his game. He is solid, but nothing compared to a few years ago.
At the moment, Eztebeth is the best lineout jumper, even though he is a tighthead lock. The throws to him seem to go as planned, but the back of the lineout is rarely used, and the middle is a shambles of confusion