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Ex South Africa Captain John Smith declared Malcolm Marx not only the best player in the world, but also the biggest whore to ever play for the Springboks.
Marx was again influential in South Africa’s final win over All black peoplegiving an almost complete display in a 29-24 win in Johannesburg. His lineout was flawless, he won a crucial breakdown penalty and scored a late driving goal as the world champions opened up a 2-1 lead in the four-match series against New Zealand.
The 32-year-old has become one of the key figures in this Springbok era, and Smith, a World Cup-winning whore himself, believes Marx is now above any South African who has worn the jersey before.
We discuss the qualities of a 92 cap whore about his I like rugby podcast, Smith also highlighted the breadth of Marx’s game, from his carry and scramble to his ball work, before noting the impact he has on those around him.
For Smith, that combination of ability and character is what sets Marx apart, leaving him convinced that “there are no real cracks in the armor.”
“I think I have so much to say because Malcolm has obviously played in the number two shirt and there are a few things about Malcolm that make him the best in the world,” Smith said. “Certainly the best to wear the number two shirt in South Africa, and I say that with respect and pleasure. I just loved watching him play. I loved what he could do for South Africa.”
“But there’s a deeper reason. He’s a beast. I mean, he’s a monstrous man. He’s a big guy. He’s athletic. He’s fast. He carries well. Steals. Scrums. He’s got an unbelievable throw. There’s no real chink in the armor.
“And I think what people don’t understand is, on top of that, we’ve all played with some amazing rugby players, and he’s a better human being than he is a rugby player. He’s just such a good guy. He’s good for the team. He’s the type of guy that goes in there and serves. He serves guys all the time at the safety level.”
“And then his first Test was probably the quietest we’ve seen him because he hasn’t played for a while. I think he’s taken that to heart and just got better and better. His impact, it’s not just the things he does.”
“And I think the last thing I’ll say about Malcolm, and I think we’d all like people to say about us as ex-rugby players, is that he’s got to be the bane of existence for any 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 man after that, who can’t wait with him to think about it a lot.”
