Malcolm Marx has been anointed the greatest hooker in Springbok history by the man whose record he is poised to eclipse. John Smit, the 111-cap World Cup-winning captain, declared Marx the finest ever to wear the number two jersey for South Africa after watching the 32-year-old produce another masterclass in the 29-24 victory over New Zealand in Johannesburg.
Marx's display opened up a 2-1 series lead for the world champions, combining faultless line-out throwing with a crucial breakdown penalty and a late driving-maul try. The 92-cap hooker has become one of the defining figures of this Springbok era, and Smit believes the breadth of his game—from carrying and scrummaging to work over the ball—places him above every South African predecessor.
"There are a couple of things about Malcolm that make him the best in the world, certainly the best that's worn the number two shirt in South Africa, and I say that quite respectfully and quite gladly," Smit said on the I Love Rugby podcast. "I've loved watching him play, I've loved what he can do for South Africa, but there's a deeper reason. He's a beast, he's a monstrous man, he's a big guy, he's athletic. He's fast, he carries well, he steals, he scrums and he's got an unbelievable throw. There are no real chinks in the armour."
Smit, himself a hooker of considerable standing in South African rugby, also emphasised Marx's influence beyond technical ability. "What people don't understand is over and above 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," Smit added. "He's good for the team; he's the kind of guy that gets in there and serves."
Marx will earn his 93rd cap in this weekend's fixture in Baltimore and appears certain to surpass Smit's 111 appearances if he maintains his current form and fitness. The hooker remains one of Rassie Erasmus's most important players, a figure whose standing in the dressing room extends to being one of the individuals teammates look to before key matches.
A complete operator
The assessment from Smit carries weight not only because of his own decorated career but because it reflects the evolution of the hooker's role in modern rugby. Marx's ability to dominate across every facet—set-piece, breakdown, carrying, defence—has made him indispensable to a Springbok side built on forward power and tactical precision. His performance against New Zealand underscored that completeness, delivering under pressure in a match that demanded both technical excellence and physical dominance.
With the Rugby World Cup on the horizon and Marx approaching his century of caps, the hooker's legacy is already secure. Smit's endorsement simply confirms what has been evident for some time: Marx has redefined what it means to be a Springbok number two.