Marx to lead the Lions

Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx will step into the Emirates Lions captaincy hot seat for the team’s Vodacom Super Rugby derby against the Vodacom Bulls this coming Saturday.

With regular captain Warren Whiteley on the sidelines with a pectoral muscle tear, coach Swys de Bruin named Marx as the new team captain, with Elton Jantjies deputising for him.

De Bruin joked that he had “no choice” than to name Marx, one of the most popular players around and certainly a key man in his team’s fortunes.

“If I look at these muscles I had no choice,” De Bruin joked, “So when we spin the coin…no on a serious note it is an honour to announce Malcolm as captain, he has all the accolades, he is a wonderful team man and I just wish him Godspeed in what he has to do. He is like us, he is from this area, like Elton (Jantjies) and a wonderful team man and it was an unanimous decision from all of us, with Elton still as the general making all the calls and playing a major role. The two of them will play a major role in the absence of Warren, who is still around and helping.

“We have Kwagga and other leaders in the group like Courtnall (Skosan) and Lionel (Mapoe) and Dylan Smith at loosehead is a great leader as well. But officially well done to Mally..."

De Bruin said it was a popular decision.

“Definitely, Malcolm and Elton are very popular within the team. And it isn’t just a popular decision it is the right one, he knows the game, he has the right aura to speak to refs. He is a quiet type of guy, as we know him, but with his mates it is a different type of story. I’m not always going for popular decisions, it is the right decision.

“He will talk to the ref and do all those things and get the team going, and Elton will still make the on-field calls, like we did with Warren, so it is not a big thing, it is just a good change in the sense that there is not a lot of disturbance.”

Marx was a bit shy when he answered questions, saying he was literally not going to change his approach to the game because he was leading the team out.

“Thanks, I don’t really know what to say to be honest, I told coach I don’t really talk much if I don’t have much to say. It is obviously tough to follow in Wazza’s footsteps because he is one of the best captains you will find. But ja, I’m very humbled and just thankful,” Marx said.

“The Bulls always are strong, and as the coach said there are other leaders there to help and guide me. It’s not just only me but 15 guys on the park to help with that.

“I don’t have to talk much, if I have nothing to say, then I will lead by action because at the end of the day actions speak louder than words.”

The Springbok hooker shares the try-scoring record (27) in Super Rugby for the Lions with speedsters Courtnall Skosan and Lionel Mapoe.

The team to face the Bulls also shows three changes to the one that lost against the Stormers last weekend. Rhyno Herbst is in for Marvin Orie, who has a slight groin niggle.

Aphiwe Dyantyi move in for Courtnall Skosan (rotational) while Hacjivah Dayimani replaces the injured Whiteley.

In a positional switch Ruan Combrinck moves from 11 to 14.

EMIRATES LIONS TEAM:

Andries Coetzee; Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Aphiwe Dyantyi; Elton Jantjies, Nic Groom; Hacjivah Dayimani, Marnus Schoeman, Kwagga Smith, Stephan Lewies, Rhyno Herbst, Carlu Sadie, Malcolm Marx (c), Dylan Smith.

Replacements Pieter Jansen, Sti Sithole, Frans van Wyk, Robert Kruger, Vincent Tshituka, Ross Cronje, Franco Naude, Courtnall Skosan.