The news out of Japan of an injury to Malcolm Marx hit Springbok supporters like a ton of bricks — not just because he is a brilliant player, but because it is an item of bad news too many.
No doubt Rassie Erasmus feels the same way as he continues to digest the loss of ace playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Bomb Squad captain Kwagga Smith for the approaching Nations Championship.
This is on top of a lengthy casualty list that includes indispensable Boks in Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Cobus Reinach, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Ethan Hooker, Aphelele Fassi, Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Grant Williams, Morné van den Berg, and Jaden Hendrikse.
It is in times like these — when good men are falling like flies — that Erasmus’ policy of growing squad depth over the last two seasons makes so much sense. By blooding 50 different players over the international seasons in 2024 and 2025, Erasmus has created viable options to replace the injured, although in some positions — notably hooker — the waters are a touch muddier than in others.
A primary reason for this is that in Marx and Bongi Mbonambi, Erasmus possessed two exceptional players who were a cut above the rest, making it hard not to keep both heavily involved in each Test match. The coach’s planning has seen some fringe players get a crack, and hybrid utility options like Deon Fourie, Marco van Staden, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels have proved promising.
But if Marx is sidelined, and Mbonambi — who is gradually fading from the overall Bok picture — is not fully available, who becomes the first-choice Springbok hooker?
In terms of the technical aspects of the position, Johan Grobbelaar would be a leading contender. The 28-year-old has earned 10 caps since entering the Bok environment at the beginning of the 2024 season. He is not overly flashy in general play, but his basics are excellent.
His scrumming is sound, he seldom makes mistakes with his lineout delivery, and he is highly clinical in his try-taking off the back of attacking mauls. Furthermore, Grobbelaar’s club familiarity with the Bulls props, who will form a big part of the Bok pack this year, is a massive positive. He is an honest toiler who fits perfectly into the team culture.
Alternatively, the 29-year-old Marnus van der Merwe featured in three Tests in 2025, including a bench role in the Boks’ famous 43-10 hammering of the All Blacks in Wellington, but was left out of the November tour of Europe. That would suggest he has been given specific areas to work on by Erasmus. Van der Merwe has recently finished up at the Scarlets in Wales and is joining Munster for the new season, a significant upward career move.
However, one of the most improved South African players over this past URC season was Stormers hooker Andre-Hugo Venter. Head coach John Dobson has given Venter far more game time this season, and the 24-year-old has shown growing maturity and a much tighter command of his core duties. Last season, his lineout throwing was a clear weakness; this season, it has become a genuine strength.
The son of Bok legend André Venter has played just once for the national team — against Portugal in 2024 — but on current form, expect him to be much more heavily involved in the months ahead.
