One rugby scribe referred to Malcolm Marx as "Bismarck 2.0" following his barnstorming performance for the Springboks in the first Test against France.
Hooker Marx was abrasive and as physical as his idol Bismarck du Plessis in the Boks' win at Loftus Versfeld, brushing off defenders with his similarly upright carrying style and his brute strength.
Marx got the Boks over the advantage line with those bulldozing runs, which allowed the new South African halfback pairing of debutant Ross Cronje and Elton Jantjies to ease into the Test and then dominate the French with ball in hand and accurate tactical kicking.
South African rugby and the Boks have always been known for their physicality, and regarded as the biggest bullies on the world rugby block. But there is a feeling that the Springboks have lost their aura and that intimidation factor over the last few years.
However, Marx has brought that back into the Bok pack, setting the tone physically as the Springbok pack stood up in the face the French assault.
"I like that type of rugby, and when I moved to number two in my last year at school Bismarck was the guy who I wanted to emulate. Obviously I want to be my own self, but with aspirations to play like him as well," Marx said.
But this Saturday, in the second Test at Durban's Kings Park, is going to be even hotter in the proverbial kitchen upfront, after France bolstered their side with players who featured in the French Top 14 final two weeks ago.
The French made eight changes to their side, and the feeling around the Bok camp is that they will pose even more of a physical threat in the second Test of this three-match series.
"We are definitely happy with last week. But that is in the past, we have got a new hurdle this week to jump over," Marx said.
"We are expecting the same physical challenge, maybe even a bit harder this week. Last week was physical, and we are expecting nothing less this week from the French.
"Obviously the set-piece is going to be key. They have got a good lineout and a very strong scrum."
While Marx is an explosive player with ball in hand, there have always been question marks surrounding his lineout throwing. He struggled in his Test debut for the Boks against the All Blacks in 2016, and as a result has struggled to get game time at international level.
Marx, though, is still getting the nuances required to be a top hooker under the belt after moving into the position when he was 18 years old at the King Edward VII school -- only four years ago.
His lineout throwing was good in the first Test, although the French did contest very well. But it's helped that Marx has his Lions teammate Franco Mostert playing at lock and calling the lineouts. He also has his franchise captain Warren Whiteley jumping at the back.
"I played a bit more tight as a loose forward, whereas some game plans allow the loose forwards to play a bit more of an expansive game. So they thought that I would be a better two," the 22-year-old Marx said.
"Every single week you can improve, there is no such thing as a perfect game. I'm a student of the game and I just want to get better every week. I haven't had the chance to play with the other locks in the team, but we are getting to know each other."