Rassie Erasmus Told What He Must Fix Ahead of Springboks’ Wallabies Clash in Perth

• The Springboks leaned heavily on Malcolm Marx throughout the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand, raising long-term concerns
• Rassie Erasmus made a surprise mid-series recall of 39-year-old Deon Fourie, but the flanker-turned-hooker exposed a lineout weakness when deployed in the position
• Erasmus has outlined a three-pronged plan involving Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and André-Hugo Venter to solve the hooker depth problem

The Springboks produced another commanding display in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series against New Zealand, sweeping all four matches, but a recurring problem at hooker has emerged as a significant concern heading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle.

Malcolm Marx was the standout performer across the series and would have been the overwhelming choice for a Man of the Series award had one been officially named. However, the 32-year-old carried an unusually heavy workload throughout the fixtures, a situation that has put the depth behind him under the spotlight.

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Erasmus is tasked ahead of their game against the Wallabies to fix the problem of Marx carrying a heavy workload in games for the Springboks, with more players needed in his position.

Fourie recall highlights hooker depth problem

The contrast with the 2019 World Cup campaign is striking. Back then, Marx and Bongi Mbonambi shared responsibilities closely, each regularly playing around half of rugby. That balance no longer exists. Mbonambi's ongoing battle with fitness has seen his influence diminish, while younger options Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels have yet to consistently stake their claim.

Midway through the RGR series, coach Rassie Erasmus took the unusual step of recalling veteran Deon Fourie, 39, to the squad. Fourie brings considerable experience and leadership, but his natural position is openside flank, and his appearances at hooker exposed lineout vulnerabilities during the most recent match.

Erasmus maps out a path forward

Erasmus confirmed in late August that 35-year-old Bongi Mbonambi is working towards a return after dealing with a knee injury followed by a lower-back issue.

Speaking to the media, Erasmus explained that Mbonambi had initially suffered a knee problem before experiencing complications with his lower back. The Springbok coach said he remains in regular contact with the hooker and receives updates on his recovery, although Mbonambi must first be cleared by the Sharks’ medical team.

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Erasmus stressed that Mbonambi’s comeback would have to be carefully managed. He indicated that the veteran hooker would likely need to feature in several Currie Cup matches before the Springbok selectors could consider bringing him back into the national setup.

The coach also highlighted Jan-Hendrik Wessels as a player being developed into a specialist reserve hooker, with his progression being handled gradually. André-Hugo Venter remains another option under consideration.

Looking further ahead, Erasmus said Mbonambi appears to be nearing a return but emphasised that the experienced hooker needs meaningful competitive minutes to regain his match sharpness before he can be assessed for another Springbok call-up.

With the 2027 Rugby World Cup approaching, balancing Malcolm Marx’s workload while developing dependable alternatives at hooker remains a key priority for the Springbok coaching staff.

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Source: Briefly News