November 10, 2026
Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx has strongly defended the rolling maul ahead of South Africa's Friday night Test against France. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the reigning World Rugby 15s Player of the Year dismissed growing media criticism labelling the set-piece as an indefensible tactic. The debate intensified after the Springboks used the driving maul to score five of their nine tries during a dominant 66-7 victory over Italy in Turin.
Marx said that the driving lineout relies entirely on a coordinated pack effort rather than individual brilliance. "The guys that set the maul in the front, they do most of the work, and the guys behind them," Marx said. "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."
Addressing calls from critics to alter current rugby law clarifications to curb the maul's effectiveness, Marx urged teams to focus on adaptation instead. "And with regard to the laws … We can’t try and change things in our favour," he added. "The quicker we can adapt to it, the better it will be."
The upcoming Paris clash serves as a highly anticipated rematch of recent tightly contested fixtures, including the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, which South Africa won 29-28. Marx, who missed out on most of that global tournament due to a serious injury, acknowledged that the host nation still carries an emotional burden. "I speak on behalf of myself, but we’ve had a few narrow wins against them, and in 2023 they obviously felt they should have been in the World Cup final, which does leave a bit of a scar," Marx noted.
The veteran forward made it clear that the Springboks are refusing to get drawn into any pre-match emotional narratives or talk of French revenge. "But if that’s their mentality, that’s their choice," he stated. "We can only control the way we prepare and the way we approach a game, and that’s to focus on ourselves in the best possible way with the pictures we’ve seen throughout the week."
The 32-year-old hooker also brushed off suggestions that he will be a targeted man on the field after being named the World Rugby and SA Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year for 2025. "You must always be fit week in and week out, and be at your best regardless of how many years you’ve been here," Marx explained. "I can’t rely on things I did last year or the year before to get me through now. It still takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and in this group of players and management, everybody’s equal."
Marx insisted that inside the team environment, previous accolades hold zero currency ahead of the French encounter. "It doesn't matter what you’ve won or achieved, everybody is treated exactly the same, so it doesn’t add extra pressure," he said. "We’ve got another big challenge ahead this weekend, and we cannot rely on previous results to pull us through this week. I still have to work hard and make sure I contribute in the best way I can."
Despite the pressure of international rugby, the veteran forward highlighted his ongoing pride in wearing the green and gold jersey. "That said, it’s still a great honour, and it’s always a dream every single year to represent my country," Marx added. "It’s a really nice environment to be a part of, and it’s still a big part of my life."