Nick Mallett gives his verdict on Springboks’ rookie fly-half and their depth in that position

Nick Mallett has praised Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus for strengthening the world champions’ fly-half depth ahead of their clash against Wales in Durban on Saturday.

Since their triumphant campaign at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, the Springboks have relied mostly on three classy fly-halves in Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok to wear the green and gold number 10 jersey at Test level.

All three of those playmakers have impressed when called upon to serve as the Boks‘ chief playmakers but Feinberg-Mngomezulu is currently sidelined with an ankle injury sustained while on duty for the Stormers in a United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Cardiff in Cape Town at the end of May.

The 24-year-old finished the 2025 international season as the Boks’ first-choice fly-half and Erasmus has indicated that he should be back to full fitness in time for the eagerly anticipated Greatest Rivalry series with the All Blacks, which will take place during August and September.

Fresh blood among the Springboks’ fly-halves

Apart from Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Libbok and Pollard, Erasmus recently introduced Quan Horn and Vusi Moyo to his fly-half mix with the former making his first Boks start in that position during last month’s clash with the Barbarians in Gqeberha while the latter made an appearance off the bench towards the end of that clash.

Moyo is just 20 years old and has played only one senior match in the URC for the Sharks and will be under pressure in Durban against Wales, but Mallett was impressed with what he has seen of the youngster against the Baa-baas.

“So let me start off with Vusi Moyo. I think he’s had a few injuries, if I’m not mistaken,” he told the Talking Boks podcast with Brendan Nel. “I think he already impressed the Springbok selection group a while back.

“He’s looked very composed playing for the U20s, (who) won the (World Rugby Junior) Championship last year.

“And he’s quite a big, physical guy with a very good boot, kicks well for poles.

“There was just a snapshot of what he could do in that Barbarians game when he came on. It was 10 minutes to go. And he took a really flat, nice little pass.

“I think it might have been to Paul de Villiers and then got a return pass to himself. Or it was the other way around and Paul scored. But he created the opportunity by his ability to play really flat.”

Mallett highlighted Erasmus’ strategy of backing up-and-coming, talented youthful players and believes Moyo will be the latest youngster to benefit from this ploy.

“I think that Rassie has got a principle to give opportunities as early as possible to these young guys,” explained the former Springboks head coach.

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“So, if you think of Zach Porthen coming in before he played really a URC game virtually as a Test match prop, you had Riley Norton that would have probably been had he not torn his hamstring.

“And now you’ve got Vusi Moyo.

Erasmus keen ‘see how they go under pressure’

“So even though these guys might not have had a URC start, a franchise start, they are still guys for the future that he wants to keep in the system and see how they go under pressure.

“So, I’m very excited to see how he goes.”

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Mallett also hailed Erasmus for not just relying on the experienced trio of Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Libbok and Pollard, and for introducing exciting playmakers like Horn and Moyo to the rigours of Test rugby – something which is not restricted to just the fly-half position.

“He’s already given a guy like Quan Horn a Test at 10,” he said.

“So, if you go through it, you’ve got Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu), you’ve got Manie (Libbok), you’ve got Pollard, you’ve got Quan Horn, and you’ve got now Vusi Moyo.

“They’re five guys who will have played fly-half for the Boks in the last three (years). Well, obviously, Sacha was the starter (in 2025).

“But subsequent to us starting again, he’s been injured. Four guys have been playing a fly-half. So a really good position to be in.

“Herschel Jantjies will probably be in that same position coming in as a third or fourth choice scrum-half. You know that you’ve also got (Morne) Van den Berg coming back.

“So strength in depth all over the place and confidence.”

READ MORE: Springboks: Rassie Erasmus backing ‘nice and calm’ rookie to shine against Wales