Bok hooker Marx eager to lock horns with Les Bleus's Guirado

Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx is excited by the prospect of coming face to face with experienced France counterpart Guilhem Guirado in the second Test at Kings Park on Saturday.

The French captain missed the opening loss at Loftus last weekend where coach Guy Noves rested players from Toulon and Clermont but is available this weekend as Les Bleus look to level the series.

“I haven’t really watched too much of their French Super 14 but I have seen a little bit of Six Nations where they had some impressive performances in the tournament‚” said the 22-year old Lions player who is referred as the next Bismarck du Plessis.

“He (Guirado) is a good player with good work rate and it is a welcome challenge for me to come up against such a player. I am looking forward to it.

“I like that type of rugby that was played by Bismarck and when I moved to two he was the guy that I wanted to play like. Obviously I want to create my own identity and be my own self but I have aspirations to play like him.

“I moved to two in matric from seven. I played more of a tight role as a loose forward but some gameplans allowed more expansive outside play‚ and my junior coaches believed that I would be a better two.”

Marx said he was pleased with the way the Boks performed last week but said they need to step up a notch on Saturday to stand guarantee wrapping up the series with a match in Johannesburg to spare.

“I am definitely happy with last week’s performance but that is in the past and we have a new hurdle this week to jump over this weekend‚ and continue to build momentum.

“We expect them to be physical‚ they have a good set piece and they have a very strong scrum so we have to be focused on our job‚” he said.

Another key member of the Boks forwards is Oupa Mahoje. The flanker said that the Springboks have prepared well this week.

“We know that France have made a number of changes to their starting lineup and they will be more physical. It is up to us to step up to it and show our presence.

“They like playing with the ball and our job is to put pressure on them and not give them any time to carry the ball‚ and play the game on our terms‚” said Mahoje‚ who is enjoying playing in a loose forward combination with capain and No 8 Warren Whiteley and Siya Kolisi.

“It was the first time that me‚ Siya and Warren played together as a combination and I think we did alright. We will only get better as games go by‚” he said.