Bulls chasing Japan-based Bok star

The Vodacom Bulls have opened talks with a Japan-based Springbok, looking to lure the veteran back to South Africa. forumteam.blog

According to Rapport, Malcolm Marx is strongly considering a return to South Africa, with the Bulls already having made contact with the 32-year-old.

Formal negotiations have not yet started, but that is expected to be the next step as the Bulls explore the possibility of bringing the hooker to Loftus Versfeld.

Any move is unlikely to come cheaply, however, with Marx’s Japanese club the Kubota Spears keen to retain the services of the experienced hooker.

Marx has played for the Japanese side since 2021 and would therefore need a compelling offer to make the move back to South Africa.

The Bulls are nevertheless keen to strengthen their options at hooker, particularly with Junior Bok Esethu Mnebelele set to join the Sharks later this year.

That would leave Johan Grobbelaar, Juann Else and Juandré Schoeman among the Bulls’ hooker options, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Marco van Staden also able to cover the position.

“I think the competition for Malcolm will be very fierce,” a source close to the Bulls camp told Rapport.

There could, however, be one factor working in the Bulls’ favour.

Marx already has a relationship with head coach Johan Ackermann, who was in charge of the Lions when the hooker began establishing himself at senior level.

Marx spent five seasons with the Lions from 2014 to 2019 before moving overseas.

This story was first published on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished here with permission.

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Former Springbok centre and Stormers coach Robbie Fleck believes Manie Libbok should get the nod at flyhalf for Saturday’s opening Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test against the All Blacks.

Speaking on the Boks Unpacked X The Verdict podcast with Hanyani Shimange and Jean de Villiers, Fleck and de Villiers gave their views on the backline Rassie Erasmus is likely to select for the Ellis Park clash.

They agreed that Damian Willemse should pip Aphelele Fassi for the No 15 jersey, while Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe were backed to start on the wings.

Fleck and de Villiers were also unanimous in their midfield selection, backing Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, with Grant Williams their preferred scrumhalf.

POLL: Pick your Bok 10 to face All Blacks

Fleck, who scored 10 tries in 31 Tests for the Springboks, then gave his verdict on the flyhalf battle.

“I agree with that backline, and I would go with Manie,” Fleck said.

Libbok wore the No 10 jersey in the Boks’ opening Nations Championship match against England, and made a substitute appearance against Wales.

Handré Pollard started at flyhalf against Scotland at Loftus, winning the Man of the Match award, and came off the bench against Argentina in Buenos Aires for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who made his return from injury.

Fleck also went a step further by predicting how he expects the four-Test series to unfold, backing the Springboks to head into the final clash in Baltimore with a 2-1 lead.

“I think it’s going to be 2-1… to the Springboks,” Fleck said.

ALSO: Sacha ‘all chips in if Boks want to win by 15’

Fleck expects the Boks to narrowly beat the All Blacks at Ellis Park but expects the New Zealanders to have a genuine opportunity to strike back in Cape Town.

“I do think that the All Blacks have got a chance here in Cape Town. They’ve got the support. They don’t fear Cape Town and they enjoy being here,” he said.

Fleck believes the Boks should then have the edge when the rivalry moves back to the Highveld.

“I think it’ll be tough for them to beat us up in the Highveld. So, that’s where I see it.”

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

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DARWIN, Australia, August 16, 2026 – Bangladesh thrashed Australia by nine wickets on the fourth day of the series-opener in Darwin to complete one of Test cricket’s greatest upsets.

After bowling the hosts out for 284 and needing 57 to win, Mominul Haque cut Beau Webster to the boundary for the winning runs to seal the nation’s first Test victory in Australia.

The moment sparked jubilation among Bangladesh players and staff as they celebrated arguably their greatest victory in 26 years of competing in Test cricket.

Australia are the top-ranked Test nation while Bangladesh haven’t played a series under the five-day format in the country since a 2-0 defeat in 2003.

The visitors were on top of the match throughout, but it was spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz who took the spotlight on day four as he took 5-66 to dismiss Australia for 284, leaving just 57 runs needed to win.

All-rounder Cameron Green showed fight with a valiant 104 but after being bowled by Hasan Mahmud, Australia’s faint hopes of saving the Test all but disappeared.

Seamer Mahmud was named player of the match after claiming 6-55 in the first innings and 3-56 in the second.

“This is the biggest win so far for Bangladesh in any format,” captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said.

“Going forward we want to do something special in the future. I’m very happy, proud of myself and the way the boys played. We did a lot of hard work.”

Speaking on ABC, commentator Jim Maxwell described the result as one of the most “embarrassing defeats that Australia have ever suffered in Test cricket”.

Miraz’s second innings performance followed a gritty 65 with the bat on day three that helped Bangladesh into a healthy first innings lead, before he dismissed talisman Steve Smith in Australia’s second innings to set up victory.

The spinner continued his form on day four as he had wicketkeeper Alex Carey caught behind for 30 before bowling all-rounder Webster for five with a pair of sumptuous deliveries to bring Australia’s tail into play.

The 28-year-old then had Australia captain Pat Cummins caught in close for eight, before a defiant 43-run eighth-wicket partnership between Green and Mitchell Starc was ended when Taskin Ahmed had the latter caught behind for 18.

Green dug in for his third Test century in his home country in a timely knock amid criticism of his place in the side, but after being dismissed by Mahmud, Miraz removed Nathan Lyon to leave Bangladesh in touching distance of victory.

Despite losing opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim for a duck to Josh Hazlewood in the second over, Mominul’s unbeaten 30 and Shadman Islam’s 25 sealed the resounding win.

“They outplayed us in all facets, they were patient and disciplined,” said Cummins.

“I thought our prep was spot-on, no excuses.”

Australia’s only previous Test defeat by Bangladesh was at Mirpur in 2017.

The match was the first of a two-Test series, with the second beginning on 22 August (01:00 BST), which you can follow with live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

Bangladesh prime minister congratulates team

The result was all the more remarkable as Bangladesh, who are the ninth-ranked Test team, had been bowled out for just 54 by a Cricket Australia XI in a warm-up match in Darwin days earlier.

In June, they were thrashed by Zimbabwe, the lowest of cricket’s 10-ranked Test-playing nations, in a one-off match in Harare.

Bangladesh’s prime minister Tarique Rahman congratulated the team on a video call with the players.

“We’re all eagerly waiting to welcome you home,” he said on social media.

Bangladesh also went into the match against a full-strength Australian team with two of their leading fast bowlers, Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam, out injured.

Shanto said the remarkable victory was helped by a mindset shift among his side’s pacemen.

“Five years ago, pacers didn’t want to play Tests,” said Shanto.

“But we’ve been playing lots of Test cricket and they are giving importance to Test format. They want to play, want to perform, want to be world class. That is the mindset they now have.

“Seniors like Mushfiqur [Rahim] and Mominul [Haque] have encouraged them to play more Test cricket.”

Former players and fans hailed Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win in Australia on Sunday as the country’s biggest achievement in the five-day game, saying it could be a turning point for their cricketing ambitions.

Bangladesh sealed a historic nine-wicket thrashing inside four days in Darwin, marking their first ever Test victory on Australian soil and only second against their formidable opponents.

“This is, I think, the biggest achievement for Bangladesh cricket in Test matches,” former captain Akram Khan told AFP.

“It was something we dreamed of but perhaps none of us expected Bangladesh to dominate and win like this.

“We are extremely happy and proud.”

Akram said the big win was built on a complete team performance rather than individual brilliance.

Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud laid the foundation with a career-best 6-55 as Australia were bowled out for 198 on the opening day.

Bangladesh then took charge through Tanzid Hasan’s maiden Test century, backed by important contributions from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Former spinner and national selector Abdur Razzak said the victory strengthened Bangladesh’s case for more Test opportunities against Australia.

This was just the seventh Test match between the teams.

“If you look at this Test and our position in the World Test Championship, there is no reason why we should not get more opportunities,” he said.

Razzak credited years of investment in domestic first-class cricket and Bangladesh’s Test programme for the team’s progress.

Former Bangladesh women’s captain Rumana Ahmed said the team’s emphatic all-round display made the win especially significant.

“Hasan Mahmud was back in the team after a long time and he did very well, taking six wickets in the first innings. That was a major factor,” she said.

“Tanzid’s hundred was historic for him as well. The batters took responsibility and scoring more than 400 in the first innings was extraordinary.”

The result was all the more remarkable because Bangladesh had been bowled out for just 54 by a Cricket Australia XI in a warm-up match days earlier.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated the team on a video call with the players.

“We’re all eagerly waiting to welcome you home,” he said on social media.

Die-hard fans also savoured the win.

“As a cricket fan of Bangladesh we don’t get occasions to celebrate very often,” Sefat Hasan Sumaiya said.

“Winning against Australia in Australia seems surreal. It feels like a national festival.”

Another fan, Sahadat Ahmed Bhuiya, called it one of the defining victories in the nation’s cricket history.

“Winning a Test in Australia within four days is a huge achievement,” he said.