Rassie Erasmus unhappy after ‘dishonest’ Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu took unnecessary All Blacks ‘gamble’
Springboks fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and head coach Rassie Erasmus.
Rassie Erasmus has revealed that fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffered a knee injury before the first Test with the All Blacks.
The talented youngster has enjoyed a remarkable year, becoming the Springboks’ first choice with a series of fine displays.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu then started the first game against New Zealand in Johannesburg but, according to Erasmus, he should not have been involved.
Hiding the injury
South Africa’s head coach stated that the playmaker hid the injury from the coaching staff and only revealed it after the 31-27 victory.
The 22-year-old has since undergone surgery and will miss the final two games of the Rugby Championship, but he will be back for the November series.
“Sacha will only be ready for the end-of-year tour. He injured his knee before the first Test against the All Blacks and he played in that game,” Erasmus said.
“The next week on the Wednesday, I asked him why he was limping and he said he injured his knee last week. I wanted to pull him out of that team because he was limping, on the field even.”
Handre Pollard started the second game with the All Blacks while Feinberg-Mngomezulu was shifted to the bench.
The fly-half did come on after the break as he helped the Springboks to an 18-12 triumph in Cape Town, but South Africa’s breakout star has now been ruled out for the next month.
‘Lucky’ Sacha
“That’s what our players must understand; we have respect for everybody, but we must be honest when it comes to injuries,” Erasmus said.
“Nobody who’s got an injury and 80% ready is better than a Springbok who has no injuries and is 100% ready. So Sacha is lucky that we won those Test matches because he gambled a bit.
“He is having the operation now. I’m not sure exactly what is wrong with the knee but he will only be ready in four and a half weeks.”
Pollard once again lines up at 10 this weekend as the Springboks attempt to win their first Rugby Championship title since 2019.
They have claimed four successive victories in 2024 so far and know that another success, this time out in Argentina, will secured the silverware.
Erasmus has made 10 changes to the South Africa team that defeated the All Blacks with Salmaan Moerat captaining the side.
It could also be a big day for another second-row, the great Eben Etzebeth, who will equal Victor Matfield’s record as the most-capped Springbok.