Springboks veteran backs ‘hugely talented’ Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to ‘pull a few strings’ against Australia
Cobus Reinach backs Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to shine in his first start for the Springboks.
Springboks scrum-half Cobus Reinach is backing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to shine in his first start for South Africa against Australia at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday and is keen to see how the new law variations impact the game.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been the breakout star for the Boks this year impressing in his first four appearances for the side, earning him a place in the Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
He links up with double World Cup-winning scrum-half Reinach, who retains the starting number nine jersey from the win over Portugal.
It’s a bold selection choice from Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff, but 22-year-old Feinberg-Mngomezulu has oozed class in his debut international season and has an experienced backline around him on Saturday with five of his fellow backs having played at least 30 Tests with all six winning the World Cup at least once.
Backing of the squad
Reinach will partner with Feinberg-Mngomezulu for the first time, a fact that does not concern the number nine who believes that combinations gel quickly in training.
“I haven’t played with him as a nine and ten but the whole week he has shown that he’s got a rugby head on him,” the Springboks scrum-half said.
“He’s a young boy but he’s hugely talented and I’m really excited for him to go out there and express himself.
“He has got the backing of the 22 other players and the rest of the squad to just go out there be himself and enjoy the moment.
Reinach added: “I think he is going to do well. He has a lot of X-factor in him, he’s going to pull a few strings and create a few opportunities.”
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Law variations
Saturday’s game will also feature new law variations that SANZAAR have signed off on for the Rugby Championship.
This includes a 20-minute red card, a countdown clock for set pieces and kicks and laws that will protect the scrum-halves at the back of mauls, breakdowns and scrums.
Reinach believes that this will provide the number nines with a few extra steps before making their pass and will clean up the game overall.
Rassie Erasmus: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s start is ‘definitely a sign of the future’
With Tony Brown’s attacking structures starting to show on the Springboks, the ability to get clean, fast ball from the rucks does excite the veteran nine.
“We’ll find out on the weekend how the law changes have affected us or will affect us but I think it’s cleaning up the game around the ruck a little bit, which will allow the nines to get a step or two out and attack the line before we choose our option,” he explained.
“But in some games, you don’t want to run anyway so it doesn’t really matter and it’s just how we plan for that week and how we want to attack that week and what we want to do.
“I’m excited to see how quickly we can get the ball away.”
