Springbok icon John Smit recently heaped praise on Malcolm Marx, calling him a nightmare for any team he goes up against. Smit, who is also regarded as one of the greatest in his position, lavished Marx with acclaim after yet another stellar performance. This came following South Africa's victory over New Zealand, where they secured a 29-24 win to lead the series 2-1 before the final showdown in Baltimore.
During a discussion on the I Love Rugby podcast with notable former players George Gregan and Jim Hamilton, Smit shared his admiration for Marx, the current World Rugby and SA Rugby Player of the Year.
"There are a couple of things about Malcolm that make him the best in the world, certainly the best who’s worn the No 2 shirt in South Africa. He’s a beast. He’s a monstrous man. He’s big, athletic, fast. He carries well, he steals, he scrums, he’s got an unbelievable throw. There’s no real chinks in the armour."
He continued to emphasize the impact Marx has on the team, especially before high-stake matches.
"He’s the kind of guy who gets in there and serves. He provides a level of confidence that when you sit in a change room before a big Test match and you look around and you see [him], you think, ‘I’m going to be okay.’"
"Probably his first Test [of 2026] was the quietest we’ve seen him because he hadn’t played a bit for a while, and I think he took that to heart. And he just got better and better. The last thing I’ll say about Malcolm is that he must be the bane of existence for every opposition team that plays against him, but I don’t think there’s one person in world rugby who doesn’t like him as a human afterwards … that says a lot about the guy."
The Springboks were initially trailing in the game at FNB Stadium but managed a comeback, spurred by a critical scrum that turned into a penalty try. This play was crucial after a week of intense tactical debates between coaches Rassie Erasmus and Dave Rennie.
Smit described the anticipation and tension surrounding the scrum situation during the match.
"The thing that stands out for me in that Test is that every South African, every ‘green goblin’, was waiting for the scrum to deliver. South Africa need that weaponized scrum to create their confidence and get that psychological benefit."
He shared a light-hearted moment about his prediction regarding the scrum outcome.
"I actually called it sitting next to Vincent [Koch], who was watching with me, and I just said, ‘If this scrum is par or New Zealand get a penalty, I can promise you we’re in for a dogfight’. We took a bet and I said, ‘Hundred bucks it’s a penalty try’. And he said, ‘Hundred bucks it’s nothing’. So I’m a hundred rand richer, guys."
Malcolm Marx's prowess on the field continues to echo throughout rugby, as he enforces his status not just as a player, but as a formidable opponent and respected figure off the field as well.
