Malcolm Marx warns All Blacks will target Springboks at scrum time

Malcolm Marx expects New Zealand to put South Africa under heavy pressure at scrum time when the Springboks meet the All Blacks in Johannesburg on 22 August. The match is the opening Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.

South Africa had the advantage in the scrum during their Tests against New Zealand in 2025, but Marx said that previous success would have no bearing on the coming contest. He believes the All Blacks will arrive with a clear intention to challenge the Springboks in that area, while continuing their own preparation.

The South African hooker said the forwards have spent the past two weeks working to improve their position ahead of the Test. He also identified New Zealand’s ball-carrying, defence and set-piece play as major tests for the Springboks.

Marx added that South Africa’s three hookers are all capable of contributing if selected. He described the scrum battle as an important examination for them, with both teams working to strengthen that part of their game before the series begins.

Preparation has followed the same approach used for other Tests, although the importance of the fixture is clear to the Springboks. South Africa have used analysis of earlier matches to identify areas for improvement and to study New Zealand’s threats at the breakdown, as well as possible openings for their own attack.

The exact teams were still being kept private by both camps, with the line-ups expected to be announced later in the week. Marx’s comments underline the importance South Africa are placing on the set piece after their strong scrum performances against the All Blacks last year.