“From a defensive standpoint, he really impressed me despite his young age. He stood his ground in the 12 channel, displaying no signs of fear or aggression. This was the assessment of Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber regarding new sensation Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who was named to the national team for the first time on Friday.
The 20-year-old Stormers playmaker was joined by franchise teammate Manie Libbok in the 34-man group that will face Ireland next Saturday in Dublin, followed by France (Marseille), Italy (Genoa), and England (London) on consecutive weekends.
Due to the inaccessibility of Handre Pollard, Elton Jantjies, and Frans Steyn, it was anticipated that Bulls No. 10 Johan Goosen would serve as Damian Willemse’s most likely backup.
Goosen was named to the 19-man SA A squad that will face Munster (November 10) and Bristol (November 17) on tour. However, Goosen’s lack of URC game action since returning from an 11-month knee injury layoff worked against him.
Since 2018 we have consistently used Handre, Elton, and Frans. Unfortunately, they are unavailable. But Damian has performed admirably at flyhalf for us this season,” Nienaber said on Friday.
“We designated Johan Goosen during our February discussions. We had him in mind when we asked, “Who will be the next flyhalf if we suffer an injury?” He spent some time with us during the entire training camp prior to the Wales Tests and the Rugby Championship.
“He has been on the field with us and assisted Stokke with coaching duties. So, he has a reasonable understanding of how we operate and conduct business.
“However, he played a total of 160 minutes during the URC. We would have liked a few extra minutes, but it was not to be. This is why we have three promising young flyhalves performing for their franchises in the URC in South Africa.
Libbok received a call-up following a string of impressive performances for the Stormers over the past year and a half. His skill set, kicking game, and drive won over the Bok management.
“Myself and Stokke (Bok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick) probably arrived with Manie in 2016/17, and I coached Manie at SA Schools when he and Damian Willemse were teammates,” said Nienaber.
“And at one point, Manie was nearly where Sacha is now — he’s the next prodigy, the next kid on the rise. Then he joined the Bulls, was signed by the Sharks, and was then released by the Sharks.
“Eventually he joined the Stormers, and then he had to undergo mental development… Everyone anticipated Manie Libbok to perform magic in every game since he is a magical player.
“The criticism is occasionally harsh when things do not go his way. So, Manie deserves praise. Since I’ve worked with him, he’s demonstrated his quality in the URC last year and this year — he’s evolved significantly.”
However, the selection of Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has appeared in only a handful of games for the Stormers, has generated the most discussion.
Earlier this year, he led the Junior Springboks to a tournament triumph in Italy, and he shined in the Capetonians’ recent victory over Zebre.
It appears that his adaptability also prompted the Bok management to elevate him above the likes of Gianni Lombard, Jordan Hendrikse, and Boeta Chamberlain, No. 10 for the Sharks.
“The nice thing for us, now that the SA A squad and Springboks are together, is that the coaching staffs were all there at camp. “Bafana (Nhleko, Junior Bok coach) has trained Sacha for some time, and it was helpful to utilize his knowledge of him and the things they worked on with him in the junior divisions,” Nienaber added.
Thus, it was pleasant to receive that comment. But what struck me most about Sacha is that he is obviously athletic. He is an athletic player who is swift and nimble. He’s got good skills. I believe he had to choose between soccer and rugby, therefore he is a very skilled individual.
“I believe Sacha is now (at that time) everybody’s “Sacha, Sacha.” He is a fantastic rugby player, yet he occasionally disappoints others.
“You must psychologically battle through that, and you will sustain injuries while you fight through it. Sacha is a courageous player, but we will have to see. It will be exciting to see him play on this platform, which is virtually a step beyond the URC.”
Rassie Erasmus, director of rugby, remarked regarding Feinberg-Mngomezulu, “Sometimes we use a six-two split, and sometimes you need a 10-15 cover, or a 10-12 cover, or a 10-12-15 cover. If Cheslin is on the lineup, you have another option at 10, but he was injured. If Frans Steyn is on the team, you are covered for 10-12-15.
“What’s great about Sacha is that he can play both 10 and 12.” Manie discusses 10 and 15 People occasionally question why you have both Stormers flyhalves. Because one assumes additional responsibilities following his core position.
“In our estimation, Damian is now a flyhalf. We anticipate him to attend the World Cup as a flyhalf. People forget the final goal he scored against Wales to help us win that Test match. We have been diligently practicing goal-kicking.
“Sacha has courage. I do not wish to reiterate it repeatedly. It relates to the 10-15 and 10-12 utility range. We have a deep understanding of Manie’s abilities. Sacha will now have the opportunity to learn how he handles himself in physical situations and how he attacks under pressure.