ON THE MARX

‘WHENEVER THE LIONS WERE UNDER PRESSURE, MARX TURNED THE BALL OVER.’
NICK MALLET

Consider the great forwards of the modern era. Consider who had the means to influence a contest to a telling degree over 80 minutes, as well as the ability to make the one big play that meant the difference between victory and defeat.

Richie McCaw did the job for the All Blacks for 148 tests. David Pocock was a more prolific ball-stealer than McCaw when they were in their prime – and Pocock’s 2018 Super Rugby stats suggest that the Wallabies openside flank remains one of the best in this department.

As far as the Springboks are concerned, the great side that beat the British & Irish Lions and won the Tri Nations in 2009 boasted two X-factor forwards in Bismarck du Plessis and Heinrich Brüssow.

If the opinions of the public, the media, and indeed those