Marx bracing for confrontational battle against Wales

Springbok hooker and 2025 SA Rugby and World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year, Malcolm Marx, said the Boks were bracing themselves for a “confrontational and physical battle” against Wales at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday.

The match is the Boks’ third and final home game in the Nations Championship.

Marx shot down suggestions that the Boks were the clear favourites going into the clash given the team’s favourable win record against the Welsh over the last few years.

“Wales are a tough side regardless of their previous results,” said Marx.

“They are extremely physical and well-drilled, so it's going to be a big challenge. In the past couple of years, when we’ve played against them, it's always been a tough battle. They don't go away, so we know it’s going to take a full 80-minute performance this weekend if we want to get the result.”

Marx was excited about the opportunity to pack down in the front row with uncapped prop Carlu Sadie, who is one of four players who will take the field in their first Test.

“He's had a great season at Bordeaux and now he's getting his opportunity,” he said. “I scrummed with him back at the Lions in 2018 and 2019, so I have played with him before and I know what he can do.

“Obviously, we haven't played together in a while, so it's just about testing combinations and seeing what works best and I'm looking forward to the challenge this week.”

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus may have named a vastly different team to the side that ran out against Scotland last week but Marx said their objective this weekend was to keep building as a team and to make a steady improvement each week.

“There's always room for improvement regardless of how the game goes,” said Marx.

“The game of rugby is not perfect and there will always be errors and mistakes. For us this week, it’s just about working on the small things that we felt we didn't get right last week or in the previous two weeks and trying to improve in those areas.

“We know how physical Wales can be and what a threat they are, so we are preparing as best we can and working on those one or two percenters to get better this weekend.”

The Springboks completed their main training block on Wednesday and will have Thursday off to recuperate before taking the field for their captains’ run on Friday. The match kicks off at 5.40pm and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), 6 Paul de Villiers; 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Damian Willemse.

South Africa v Wales @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban 5.40pm

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), James Doleman (NZR)

Television Match Official: Glenn Newman (NZR)

Split Screen/FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)