Rassie Erasmus: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s start is ‘definitely a sign of the future’
Rassie Erasmus stop short of saying it is a changing of the guard.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu earns his first start for the Springboks this weekend as he makes his Rugby Championship debut against Australia at fly-half and Rassie Erasmus admits that it is a sign of what is to come.
The 22-year-old has come off the bench in all four of South Africa’s matches so far this year, debuting against Wales at Twickenham before replacing Handre Pollard, Willie le Roux and Manie Libbok in the three home Tests against Ireland and Portugal, respectively.
But on Saturday he has been handed the playmaking reins, starting in the number 10 jersey against the Wallabies at the imposing Suncorp Stadium – a ground the Springboks haven’t won at since 2013.
Erasmus has spoken highly of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and the way he has conducted himself in his rookie season, tipping the youngster as a potential captain for the Boks in the future.
Changing of the guard?
While the rising star has not played much senior rugby at fly-half, he has been backed in the role against Joe Schmidt’s charges and Erasmus is excited by the opportunity and the depth that the Boks have created in the role.
“It is a big opportunity for him, but it is the same for a guy like Elrigh [Louw] and Grant [Williams] playing off the bench and a few others,” Erasmus said.
“After a World Cup, you are going to find some guys knocking on the door but we have a guy like Handre with more than 70 caps on the bench which is a nice security.
“With Damian Willemse still out, we have given Jordan Hendrikse a chance and Manie too – we have some nice depth at ten but it is an exciting opportunity for Sacha. Hopefully, the forwards can give him the platform and he gets a smooth game – which will be tough.”
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Can’t look too far ahead
There is an ever-growing hype about Feinberg-Mngomezulu and his ability with him beating the likes of Pollard and Libbok to a starting jumper this week. Erasmus ultimately fielded questions around whether this was a sign of what is to come in the Green and Gold number 10 shirt.
“Well it is definitely a sign of the future, as we all say internally we can’t look too far ahead, we’ll forget the present, but we also can’t just look at the present and in the squad overall, I think there’s about nine guys in the squad that weren’t regulars prior to the World Cup last year when we rotated in,” he explained.
“I wouldn’t say it is a changing of the guard, but it is giving opportunities while guys like Handre and Manie help nurture these younger guys. It’s Sacha’s fifth cap and ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, we said we didn’t want to take a guy over with eight or nine caps so we have to build that experience.
“It’s well documented that there has never been a World Cup won where a fly-half was under 24 years old, I think Jonny Wilkson (24 in 2003) was the youngest. Rather blood a guy now and get some nice experience with a guy like Damian de Allende on his outside.
“The same applies to the number eight with Elrigh Louw, it’s not a change of the guard, it is a squad of 45 guys trying to win each Test match and certainly with a hat on for the future but they have to earn their stripes to change the guard.”
Oozes confidence
The Springboks boss is pleased by the fly-half depth currently in the squad and says that the coaches aim to replicate that across the team, but that it means that the selectors have to make brave selection calls as they have done this week.
“We do have a lot of options, but it’s because we as the selecting committee and the coaches made some brave choices and sometimes we lose matches to try and see how guys can go from one level to another level,” he explained.
“That’s why we had the SA A games, that’s also games that Sacha and other guys played and you get to learn the characters to understand the characters and that’s most important – the succession planning whilst trying to win.”
Meanwhile, Damian de Allende – who will be starting alongside Feinberg-Mngomezulu on Saturday – also spoke highly of the young player.
“I really enjoy him. He is very well-spoken and he’s got a lot of confidence,” he said.
“I know Saturday is his first start and he will be quite nervous but I hope he will be nice and composed because when he is, he is exceptional.
“I will try to help him keep his composure on the field and if he can just express himself and play his natural game, I think he will be amazing – a joy to watch.”
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