Near perfect stats confirm it: Marx is the best
SPOTLIGHT: There is no denying that Malcolm Marx is probably the best hooker in the world and the latest statistics just published by OptaJonny confirms it yet again.
It shows that Marx had a 97% success rate with his line-out throws, finding his team mates from 36 of 37 line-out throws in 2023.
His 97% success rate was the best of any player in Test rugby in 2023 (min. 25 throws):
🇿🇦 Malcolm Marx 97%
🏴 Elliot Dee 94%
🇦🇷 Julian Montoya 93%
🇫🇷 Peato Mauvaka 93%
☘️ Dan Sheehan 93%
When the prolific Springbok hooker got injured during the World Cup, it was a massive loss for South Africa.
At the time Jake White, the Bulls Director of Coaching, wrote on RugbyPass: ‘For me, he’s probably the best hooker in the world and his loss seriously diminishes the Bomb Squad, which was already weakened with the loss of Lood de Jager and Frans Steyn.
‘It shows you the importance of that elite hooker role but I need to stress that his role off the bench is not a question of strength in depth. It’s because the Boks use a different system where they use two different front rows. I don’t think there’s a contest between him and any other hooker in South Africa.’
97% – Malcolm Marx found a teammate from 36 of 37 lineout throws in 2023, his 97% success rate was the best of any player in men’s Test rugby this year (min. 25 throws):
🇿🇦 Malcolm Marx 97%
🏴 Elliot Dee 94%
🇦🇷 Julian Montoya 93%
🇫🇷 Peato Mauvaka 93%
☘️ Dan Sheehan 93%ADVERTISEMENTDarts. pic.twitter.com/9SoL0Ef83q
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) December 30, 2023
And rather than bring in another hooker, Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber opted for Deon Fourie as the back-up hooker for stalwart Bongi Mbonambi.
That indicated the growing positional crisis in South African rugby.
“We have enough cover at hooker with Bongi [Mbonambi] and Deon [Fourie] in the squad, while Marco [van Staden] has also been training there and has been named on all our team sheets so far as a hooker option,” Springbok boss Nienaber said.
Hooker is clearly a problem position all across the country, with none of the current backup options putting their hands up.
The Stormer’s Joseph Dweba was the only No. 2 on South Africa’s standby list for the World Cup but he was not drafted into the squad when Marx got injured.
Dweba’s limitations in terms of line-out throws have been widely documented.
Before he arrived in Cape Town in 2023, he had a difficult time in the line-out, especially with the Boks where he struggled to find his jumpers.
That Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park last year, as the starting hooker, especially stands out as he struggled to get his jumpers. He was eventually replaced by Marx well before the half-time break
It looks like the Bok hooker has found his mojo during the 2023 United Rugby Championship season again, hitting the proverbial targets in all the right areas for his side.
The Stormers also have promising youngsters Andre-Hugo Venter and JJ Kotze while Scarra Ntubeni is their most reliable hand, but as far as national duty goes, he definitely has age against him.
Who are the other possible candidates that can possibly make the step-up in 2024?
The Bull’s Johan Grobbelaar stands out as perhaps the best candidate and was capped by the Springboks for the first time in 2023.
When it comes to carrying and finishing, Grobbelaar is close to being a match for Marx. He has an eye for the tryline, but he is also a hooker that struggles to find consistency in his lineout throws.
Akker van der Merwe is back in South Africa but at 32 it is unclear if he would be considered for a return to the Springboks set-up.
The Shark’s inability to settle on who should be their hooker hasn’t aided the national cause, especially given that one of their options is Scotland international Dylan Richardson.
Dan Jooste and Kerron van Vuuren have been questioned because of their height, but both have had great moments for the Sharks without ever establishing themselves.
Fez Mbatha could be closer to the Springbok mould of hooker, but he currently struggles to get any game time due to injuries.
The Lions PJ Botha has been the incumbent for the Johannesburg team but his name has not been thrown around for higher honours. The 25-year-old is locked into the Lions until at least 2025, and they have been out to give him the game time his skillset warrants.
