Newly appointed Junior Springbok captain Siphosethu Mnebelele has identified Malcolm Marx as the primary influence shaping his development as a hooker, speaking to media at Cape Town International Airport on Monday ahead of the squad's departure to Georgia for the U20 World Championship.
Mnebelele made his senior Bok debut for the SA 'A' side against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha over the weekend, logging 61 minutes before being replaced by Liam van Wyk. The former King Edward's School pupil used his time in the national camp to study Marx at close quarters, paying particular attention to his warm-up routine and the detail in how he prepares.
"He's always been someone I've looked up to," Mnebelele said. "I do try to mould my game around the way Marx plays. He's got it all — his line-out throwing is good as well as his general game. I'm trying to soak in some of his on-field and off-field stuff."
Beyond Marx, Mnebelele also drew on the experience of fellow hookers André-Hugo Venter and JJ Kotzé during the camp, as well as training sessions against the Springbok squad itself. "When you're in an environment like that, it's so hard not to learn from guys who played rugby for most of their lives," he said.
The Junior Boks head to Georgia as defending U20 World Champions.