­
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER

SA Rugby magazine

South African rugby news, interviews, videos and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER
You are here: Home ∼ Team of the Year: Front row

Team of the Year: Front row

Springbok prop Frans Malherbe Dublin , Ireland - 5 November 2022; Frans Malherbe of South Africa during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Published on December 24, 2022

In the first of a six-part series, SA Rugby magazine’s writers pick their world team of the year, based on performances throughout 2022.

Zelím Nel
Malcolm Marx ranks among the best players in the world, regardless of position, and his prop mates are the best in their positions, regardless of whether they start or play off the bench.
Marx didn’t miss any of South Africa’s 13 Tests in 2022 as the defending champions won eight for a win rate of 62%. That percentage improved to 80% when Marx was in the No 2 jersey as the Bok hooker won four of five starts.
The Stormers duo of Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe is peerless as no other individual or combination can match them for scrum power and contributions in general play.

Dylan Jack
Two Boks and a Frenchman make up my best front row for 2022. Springbok stalwarts Frans Malherbe and Malcolm Marx are joined by Les Bleus loosehead Cyril Baille.
Malherbe enjoyed one of his finest seasons for the Springboks, in a year that saw him win his 50th Test cap, while Marx continued to show why he is the world’s best hooker. Meanwhile, Baille was the most-improved front ranker, going toe to toe with Malherbe in November and giving as good as he got in a fascinating scrum contest.

Devin Hermanus
World Cup-winning Springboks Frans Malherbe and Malcolm Marx and All Blacks rising star Ethan de Groot are my standout front row for 2022.
Malherbe notched his 50th Test cap this season with typical unsung grace that belied the tighthead prop’s unmatched influence in the set piece, rucks and defence, while Marx’s Man of the Match performance as South Africa pummeled New Zealand capped his 50-cap appearance, as well as cemented his status as the benchmark for all hookers on the planet. Meanwhile, Kiwi loosehead De Groot forced his way back into the All Blacks squad after his fitness was called into question.

Ollie Keohane
Steven Kitshoff has consistently been one of the best loosehead props in the world for the last few years, and whether he is wearing No 1 or No 17 has remained irrelevant in terms of his impact. Master of the dark arts of scrumming, mobile and physical around the field, and an unrelenting presence throughout every match. When Kitshoff plays, there is a marked difference in the Springbok dynamic.
If there was ever doubt as to the depth of Malcolm Marx’s quality, he put any debate to rest this past year. Given the chance to start for the Springboks in 2022, Marx was the premier force at hooker by a mile. He has the on-field presence of an extra flank, and his unique natural abilities combined with the fine-tuning of the basics of hooker play as he has matured, has propelled him to top of the pile in his position – worldwide.
In the modern game where props are expected to look like flanks and apparently offload like centres, Frans Malherbe defies this narrative by bossing opponents at scrum time, smashing runners in close quarters and pumping ruck after ruck. Malherbe is a tighthead by age-old description, and playing nearly every game this year he was the standout performer in his position.

Simon Borchardt
Frans Malherbe enhanced his reputation as a scrum master this year, while having a high work rate on defence and carrying the ball well. Malcolm Marx made a massive impact for the Boks, as a starter and a super sub. He memorably won five turnovers in his 50th Test, against the All Blacks in Nelspruit, and the Bok coaches must still regret not starting him again a week later at Ellis Park. Cyril Baille scored as great a try from close range against the Boks and the loosehead scrummed very well for France, making an impact as a ball-carrier and at the ruck.

Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Posted in Springboks, Test Rugby, Top headlines

Post by Dylan Jack

Dylan Jack

Check out Blackout Rugby Manager HERE!

← Previous Next →

Sevens’ party falls flat

World Rugby shouldn’t have messed with a winning sevens formula, writes SIMON...

Draining format clogs Blitzboks’ blockage

A protracted schedule took the wind out of South Africa's sails at...

England cut Eddie, Razor to stop the bleeding

England have made the rash decision to part ways with coach Eddie...

Rassie ref hom in die rooi

Rassie Erasmus is hardly the embarrassment that some are making him out...

Cut and paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Kurt-Lee Arendse ticks all the right boxes to replace the injured Cheslin...

Rassie auditions for England job

Rassie Erasmus has made the most calculated of public job applications to...

Boks need to make mentality adjustment

The Springboks need to lose their underdog mentality, writes SIMNIKIWE XABANISA in...

Kolbe’s worth every penny

Cheslin Kolbe’s big-money move to Toulon should be welcomed as a massive...

‘Bok gameplan, when executed correctly, is hard to match’

The opportunity to play against the All Blacks is a career highlight...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Bonus-point Bulls douse Dragons
  • Munster maul luckless Lions
  • Stormers sign off 2022 in style
  • Sharks carve Bulls on New Year’s Eve

Jacques Burger’s Perfect XV

    BKT United Rugby Championship, Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland 8/1/2023 Glasgow Warriors vs DHL Stormers Stormers' Damian Willemse Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Craig Watson
  • Highlights: Heartbreak for Stormers in Glasgow thriller

###


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

African Insider
African Insider News

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup
    • Challenge Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER