Malcolm Marx at flank? Rassie Erasmus has thrown another grenade into the Springbok tactical armoury.
The current World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year is expected to start Sunday’s Test against Australia in Perth on the bench as the Boks unleash a radically reshuffled side.
But when Marx enters the fray, he may not return to his customary No.2 jersey.
Erasmus has revealed that the powerhouse hooker has been experimenting at flank, potentially turning one of the world’s most destructive front-row forwards into a breakdown beast late in the match.
“Even later in the game, if Ox Nché comes on, Jan-Hendrik might move to hooker, and we’ve been trying Malcolm on the flank as well,” Erasmus said.
That is the surprise lurking beneath a selection dominated by squad rotation.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Zachary Porthen form the starting front row, with Marx, Nché and Wilco Louw among the replacements. Wessels’ ability to operate at both prop and hooker gives Erasmus another piece in his tactical Rubik’s Cube.
“Jan-Hendrik can play No.1 and No.2 for you, so in this specific game we feel we are giving him a chance,” Erasmus said.
Grobbelaar’s opportunity is equally deliberate.
“Grobbies has always been solid for us.”
Erasmus believes Deon Fourie has earned a rest after playing three consecutive Tests at 39, despite producing an influential performance against the All Blacks.
“After Deon [Fourie] played so well in the Stormers game against the All Blacks, we felt he could bring a helluva lot to the team in terms of knowledge, character and leadership, and he certainly did.
“However, with him playing three Test matches in a row at the age of 39, Grobbies deserves a chance now.”
Then comes the Marx curveball.
Imagine bringing on a player renowned for devastating carries, turnovers and close-quarter power, only to unleash him among the loose forwards when the match begins to resemble trench warfare.
It could give the Boks another breakdown weapon while preserving their front-row flexibility.
This is Erasmus rugby in its purest form: positions are becoming less like prison cells and more like revolving doors.
The coach’s reasoning stretches beyond Perth.
“We are trying to save the bodies, and manage the guys while winning but also building some squad depth,” Erasmus said.
He added that the Boks want to get caps into players “where we feel we are going to need it at the World Cup”.
“So, it’s a combination of things.”
With 13 changes made to the starting XV that defeated New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore, Perth is effectively another page in Erasmus’ enormous tactical notebook.
And somewhere between hooker and flank, Marx has become another weapon in the Swiss Army knife.
For Australia, that could make the second half particularly uncomfortable.
