Should Feinberg-Mngomezulu or Pollard be Springbok flyhalf in All Blacks Eden Park Test?
Ashfak Mohamed | Published 15 minutes ago
Ruck&Maul Column
I was honestly worried about Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's injury situation earlier this season.
He just didn't seem like he could put a few matches together before breaking down. The collarbone injury sustained against the Sharks in December was the latest problem.
In fact, in the two previous games against the Sharks and Lions, Feinberg-Mngomezulu went off with concussion and hip issues, respectively.
That of course all happened after a knee injury against the All Blacks saw him ruled out of the Springbok November tour as well.
After earning the SA Rugby Young Player of the Year award, Feinberg-Mngomezulu said the 'injury layoff served me well', and that 'I don't take any opportunity for granted. I've had injuries, and understand that game-time is never given'.
He made his belated return against the Scarlets in Wales on March 22, and inspired his team to a 29-17 win.
There was a bit of 'red mist' in the 38-34 loss to Ulster in Belfast, but Feinberg-Mngomezulu was back at his irresistible best in last weekend's 34-29 win over Connacht in Cape Town.
The 23-year-old flyhalf showcased his full array of skills – pace, panache, power, little chips, dummy passes, long passes... you name it.
A sensational 25-minute hat-trick from the Bishops product set the platform for the win, although the Stormers' leaky defence nearly blew it on the day – with only an obstruction in the final move stopping Connacht from pulling off a win.
But now the big question remains: should Feinberg-Mngomezulu start ahead of Handré Pollard against the All Blacks at Eden Park on September 6?
Yes, there are lots of Tests before and afterwards, but that is surely the biggest Test of the year for Rassie Erasmus' team – at least until the South Africans square off against Ireland in Dublin on November 22.
Some fans will point to the French Test at the Stade de France in Paris on November 8 as another massive one, but for me, New Zealand at Eden Park and Ireland at the Aviva Stadium are even more important.
The All Blacks haven't lost at the famous Auckland venue in 50 matches since 1994 – when they incidentally drew 18-18 against the Boks in a 'dead-rubber Test' after already winning the series 2-0 in the first two games.
New Zealand have won 48 and drawn two over the last 30 years, with the other stalemate the 15-15 score-line against the 2017 British and Irish Lions.
So, while Erasmus experimented with combinations last year and will continue to do so in 2025 in the name of growing depth for the 2027 World Cup, the best team must play against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Who's it going to be at flyhalf: Feinberg-Mngomezulu or Pollard?
The latter is currently finishing off his stint at Leicester Tigers in England before heading home to join the Bulls on July 1.
Pollard doesn't have to prove his worth as a player or leader to Erasmus, but he would need to display the necessary form to wear the No 10 jersey in Auckland on September 6.
There are Tests against Italy, Georgia and Australia for Erasmus to run the rule over his two main pivots – and Manie Libbok will hopefully also be back from injury by then – before the Boks travel to New Zealand. But I would go for Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and the reason is two-fold.
He has shown that he can handle the big occasion by starring against the Kiwis and Wallabies last season, and is currently in outstanding form.
His vast repertoire ties in with what assistant coach Tony Brown is trying to do with the evolution of the Bok attack heading towards 2027 – that the world champions are so much more than just a forward-based side who can only score tries off scrums and mauls.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu also needs to experience starting a Test match in New Zealand. He has shone at Twickenham as well, but the All Blacks are the ultimate test for the Bok team.
Can he go toe-to-toe with a Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett or Damian McKenzie in a high-stakes Rugby Championship showdown?
Feinberg-Mngomezulu can only benefit from that situation, and it may provide Erasmus with a few answers before the 2027 World Cup.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
5 hours ago
- The South African
Forget Sixty60, Springboks' Pick n Pay kit has fans cringeing
The Springboks squad has been spotted for the first time in the new kit sponsored by Pick n Pay. Instead of their usual green and gold, the South African national rugby team is donning brighter shades boldly emblazoned with the retailer's name. But like their 'Checkers Sixty60'-inspired aqua jerseys, which debuted during the 2023 World Cup, many fans are not impressed with the new look. The Boks are gearing up to play their first match this year against the Barbarians in Cape Town on 28 June. Over the past few weeks, Springbok players have gathered in preparation for the test match season, which kicks off later this month. The squad has begun intensive training, wearing their new training apparel. The new look design features a green jersey with bright yellow shorts. On social media, Springboks fans were not impressed… @iamkoshiek: 'Look at how they massacred our boys — out here looking like extras in Bollywood. Keep these bad jersey designs for the IPL.' @Capevoetsek: 'No amount of money can justify this @RizzleSimms : 'I take it back. The Checkers shirt isn't too bad'. @glewif2n: 'We're the world champions, and this is the best design on the table?!' Here's what others had to say.. Earlier this year, SA Rugby announced that Pick n Pay had signed a four-year contract as a Tier 1 sponsor. The sponsor's logo is featured on all Springboks match-day jerseys and on the front of all training apparel. The retailer replaces MTN, which previously sponsored the Boks from 2017 up until last year. The brand's name will feature on the back of the jersey in gold above the position number and player name. According to reports, the major move will cost the supermarket group around R70 million per year. In March, the Blitzboks sported the new kit for their game against Uruguay. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .


eNCA
5 hours ago
- eNCA
Billy Boston, 90, becomes rugby league's first knight
Billy Boston has become the first knight in rugby league's 130-year history after being honoured by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. Boston, 90, who stared for Wigan and Great Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, was a trailblazer for black sportsmen and one of rugby league's greatest-ever players. He scored 478 tries in 488 matches for Wigan after making the switch from rugby union in 1953. The ceremony came before the King's Birthday Honours List was publicly announced over concerns for the former player's health. Boston has vascular dementia. "Billy Boston is a true trailblazer whose contributed hugely to rugby league," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "It is a historic wrong that a sport which is the backbone of so many communities has waited so long to receive this honour. "Boston is a legend of the game who overcame prejudice to represent Great Britain and opened the door to a more diverse game." The knighthood came after a campaign lead by local politicians and senior rugby league figures.


eNCA
7 hours ago
- eNCA
Russell looks forward to Twickenham roar as Bath seek end to Premiership drought
Bath and Scotland fly-half Finn Russell is relishing the unusual prospect of being a Twickenham hero in Saturday's English Premiership final against Leicester. Russell is used to being regarded as a villan by fans at the English national stadium on his international visits with Scotland. But the British and Irish Lions number 10 can expect vociferous backing from Bath's travelling army of fans this weekend as his team go in search of their first English top-flight title since 1996. Russell kicked 14 points to help Bath beat west country rivals Bristol 34-20 in the play-off semi-finals, securing their second successive final appearance. "It is always good playing in front of a sold-out stadium," said the 32-year-old playmaker. "Having your home fans there, hopefully the majority of tickets are Bath fans, that will be special. "I know the other side of playing at Twickenham. Usually when I am there, it is 70-odd thousand fans against me." Russell is determined to help Bath make amends for last season's final loss, a painful 25-21 defeat against Northampton. "I think that motivation has been there for everyone," Russell said. "After getting that final and losing it last year, it is always quite tough to come back in that next year. "But I think everyone came back in pre-season in good shape and kind of ripped in straight away." Bath, who came top of the regular-season Premiership table, are chasing a treble, having already won the European Challenge Cup and the Premiership Rugby Cup. Johann van Graan's side finished 11 points clear of second-placed Leicester and Russell called on them to secure the long-awaited title at Twickenham this weekend. "At the start of the year, the goal was to win the Premiership. We have gotten ourselves in a good spot just now to hopefully go and do that," he said. "We have almost got back to where we wanted to be and hopefully can go one step further this year."