Proudfoot happy with hooker depth

The return of star hooker Malcolm Marx for the Springboks’ Rugby Championship campaign has added a great boost of depth and quality to the side.

Missing the June tests due to injury, Marx returns to the Springbok fold fully fit and with some Super Rugby finals game time under his belt.

While he started against the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final just two weekend’s ago, he is expected to be starting against the Pumas for the Boks this Saturday.

Marx’s return allows for the quality of Bongi Mbonambi on the bench, who was fantastic during the Springboks’ 2-1 series win over England in June.

Of Marx Proudfoot said, “He’s a very humble man and a guy who sets high goals for himself … he’s a great player,” but went on to add , In saying that, in the two Test matches that we won in June with Bongi, I think Bongi showed his quality.”

Proudfoot noted the tough competition Mbonambi now posed for Marx.

“If you look at Steven (Kitshoff) and Beast (Mtawarira) and which one starts and which one comes off the bench, I think we’re pretty much getting there with our hookers as well. It’s a great place to be.

“As Rassie (Erasmus) has said, the process is to build on that and create that level where we have two or three guys in the position playing at so that come World Cup time we will be in a good position.

“I like the competition between him and Bongi and it’s also exciting to work with Akker (Van der Merwe) and have a player just a little bit different to the two of them and add some spice.”