Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx was thrilled to be back in the Springbok squad and said the competition for places in the match-day squad was as good it gets.
Marx has been back in South Africa for a few weeks, training with the Bok squad in Bloemfontein after the Japanese season concluded.
The tough-as-nails hooker, who was part of the Boks’ Rugby World Cup-winning squad in Japan two years ago, said it was great reuniting with his national teammates.
Marx will be competing with his fellow RWC-winner Bongi Mbonambi, as well as Scarra Ntubeni and the uncapped Joseph Dweba for the Springboks’ No 2 shirt, but he sees that as a good thing.
“We haven’t been around each other in close to two years, so there is always a good vibe when we get together as the Boks,” said the Rugby World Cup winner.
“There’s healthy competition for places in the squad. We are keeping one another on our toes and training as hard as we can week-in and week-out.
“There are guys ahead of you and behind you pushing for places, so we are all trying to be on top of our game all of the time.”
Marx said despite the team’s long absence from international rugby, they were excited to launch back into action.
“Personally, I don’t think it would be an excuse for anyone that we haven’t played (as a national team) in so long because we were in a pandemic,” said Marx.
“It’s something we have to deal with. We’ll see against Georgia where we are in terms of our fitness and physicality.”
Commenting on his experience of playing club rugby in Japan, Marx said: “It has been really good. It is a great experience.
“I didn’t know what to expect after the Rugby World Cup, but it is a great place to live and I am learning new things over there.”