After another commanding performance in the Boks' 29-24 win over the All Blacks in Johannesburg — faultless lineout throwing, a breakdown penalty won, and a late driving-maul try — John Smit goes on record on his podcast to say Marx is not just the world's best hooker right now, but the best to have ever worn the No. 2 jersey for South Africa. Smit's case rests on the complete package: physicality, athleticism, carrying, scrumming, jackaling, and a throw with no real weakness. But what Smit dwells on most is Marx's character — the way he serves teammates, lifts confidence around him, and commands respect from opponents who'd still happily share a beer with him afterwards. For Smit, that combination of on-field dominance and human quality is what truly separates Marx from every hooker before him.
John Smit: Malcolm Marx is the best hooker South Africa has ever produced
John Smit makes the case that Malcolm Marx is not only the world's best hooker right now, but the finest to have worn the Springbok No. 2 jersey — and argues his character is as central to that verdict as his on-field dominance.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Hansen's Right to Back Himself — But the Boks' Five-Match Streak Tells a Different Story
Jean de Villiers acknowledges Hansen's logic but argues last year's results and performances make it hard to see the All Blacks closing the gap on the Boks — and the panel get genuinely animated over what a 2-2 series tiebreaker would even look like.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
All Blacks' loosehead crisis hands Springboks a ready-made weapon in Greatest Rivalry Series
Jeff Wilson has publicly identified loosehead prop as the All Blacks' most dangerous weakness ahead of four consecutive Tests against the Springboks — with Williams likely out, Tu'ungafasi's future uncertain, and the remaining options short on caps and experience. Set against the depth Erasmus has built across the prop positions, this piece maps out why scrum time could be where the Greatest Rivalry Series is decided.
Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA
Stephen Donald backs Hansen's anti-copycat argument, saying Robertson erred by chasing the Springbok blueprint rather than New Zealand's tempo-based strengths — and expects Rennie to correct that course ahead of a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa.