Malcolm Marx has pushed back on the idea of designating a single home venue as the Springboks' fortress, insisting the entire country serves that purpose ahead of Saturday's first Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
"It doesn't matter where we play, who we're playing against — we prepare the best that we can and we know we're not just representing ourselves and our families, we've got 64-, 65-million people that we're trying to represent," said Marx at a Johannesburg press conference.
The series runs across three South African venues before concluding in Baltimore on September 12. Of those home grounds, Cape Town Stadium carries the Boks' best win rate at 83.3% (five from six), followed by Ellis Park at 69.6% (39 from 56), with FNB Stadium at 33.3% (one from three) — both losses at the Calabash coming against New Zealand.
Marx, who at 89 Tests brings considerable experience to the hooker battle, identified the breakdown as a key area of preparation. He acknowledged the All Blacks' tendency to use shoulders entering rucks — noted across their three tour warm-up matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls — and said the Boks have done extensive analysis on it.
"We're working really hard at the things we need to improve on and bearing in mind the small things they do around the breakdown."
On scrums, Marx was equally measured, warning against complacency after the 43-10 win in Wellington. "We know the All Blacks will obviously come after us at the scrums. We can't rely on what's happened in the past to take us through this game."
Marx spoke warmly of opposite number Codie Taylor. "I've got the most respect for him — he's extremely physical, good at set pieces. We have a bit of a laugh and a beer after the game, but we obviously both know on the day we've both got a job to do."
With 27 Test tries — the most by a Springbok forward and fifth on the all-time list — Marx sits five behind fourth-placed Jaque Fourie, though records appeared to be the last thing on his mind this week.