Latest news with #Feinberg-Mngomezulu
The Citizen
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Rassie unfazed by Sacha's 1/5 against Georgia
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said he was not too concerned about flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotting just one of his five kicks against Georgia on Saturday, The Citizen reports. He noted that other Springboks made more mistakes, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu picked up a hip pointer injury in the warm-up. Besides, he is younger than the other flyhalves, may not be his first-choice No 10, and still has plenty to learn. Sacha 20% against Georgia Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23, missed his first three conversions during the Springboks' 55–10 demolition of Georgia in Mbombela. He slotted his next one and then missed his last before being substituted by Handré Pollard early in the second half. The experienced ace nailed all four of his conversions and even scored a try in the 36 minutes he was on the field, adding 13 points to the scoreboard himself. It followed Manie Libbok missing his first two conversions against Italy last week, though he rallied well to slot the next five. Feinberg-Mngomezulu had a far better kicking record than his Stormers teamate, Libbok, in this past season's United Rugby Championship. He finished with a 85.7% kicking success compared to his senior's 72.6%. But Erasmus said goal-kicking was not the be-all and end-all of a flyhalf in his system. The Springbok coach said Feinberg-Mngomezulu is 'not necessarily the first-choice 10' in the set-up. 'We've got Manie, who's on song and when Handré came on you saw he is solid in that,' Erasmus said. 'If you just look at Sacha's goal-kicking, the first [three] he missed, I think after that he did pretty well.' Coaches weren't sure whether to play him after hip pointer The coach said Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffered a hip pointer in the warm-up to the game and coaches were not sure if they should still play him. 'But he wanted to play,' Erasmus said. 'I don't know if that's an excuse for the way he kicked at poles. But he definitely ran it out. We like flyhalves who try things on the field, not just to play in their box and be safe. 'He was settling, he wasn't one of the guys who made the most errors.' He said there were 'lots of guys' who made errors because of Georgia's disruptive game play, which Erasmus commended. 'So no, I am not frustrated with Sacha. It is only his second start this year. Again, he is young compared to our other flyhalves.' Libbok and Pollard are five and eight years his senior, respectively. He has nine Test caps compared to their 20 and 81.
The Citizen
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bok coach unfazed by Sacha's 1/5 against Georgia
The Springbok coach said the flyhalf suffered a hip pointer in the warm-up, and was not the worst Bok on the field. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said he was not too concerned about flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotting just one of his five kicks against Georgia on Saturday. He noted that other Springboks made more mistakes, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu picked up a hip pointer injury in the warm-up. Besides, he is younger than the other flyhalves, may not be his first-choice No 10, and still has plenty to learn. Sacha 20% against Georgia Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23, missed his first three conversions during the Springboks' 55–10 demolition of Georgia in Mbombela. He slotted his next one and then missed his last before being substituted by Handré Pollard early in the second half. The experienced ace nailed all four of his conversions and even scored a try in the 36 minutes he was on the field, adding 13 points to the scoreboard himself. It followed Manie Libbok missing his first two conversions against Italy last week, though he rallied well to slot the next five. Feinberg-Mngomezulu had a far better kicking record than his Stormers teamate, Libbok, in this past season's United Rugby Championship. He finished with a 85.7% kicking success compared to his senior's 72.6%. But Erasmus said goal-kicking was not the be-all and end-all of a flyhalf in his system. The Springbok coach said Feinberg-Mngomezulu is 'not necessarily the first-choice 10' in the set-up. 'We've got Manie, who's on song and when Handré came on you saw he is solid in that,' Erasmus said. 'If you just look at Sacha's goal-kicking, the first [three] he missed, I think after that he did pretty well.' Coaches weren't sure whether to play him after hip pointer The coach said Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffered a hip pointer in the warm-up to the game and coaches were not sure if they should still play him. 'But he wanted to play,' Erasmus said. 'I don't know if that's an excuse for the way he kicked at poles. But he definitely ran it out. We like flyhalves who try things on the field, not just to play in their box and be safe. 'He was settling, he wasn't one of the guys who made the most errors.' He said there were 'lots of guys' who made errors because of Georgia's disruptive game play, which Erasmus commended. 'So no, I am not frustrated with Sacha. It is only his second start this year. Again, he is young compared to our other flyhalves.' Libbok and Pollard are five and eight years his senior, respectively. He has nine Test caps compared to their 20 and 81.
The Citizen
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Spotlight on these 7 Springbok players in Mbombela
It's a much-changed Springbok team that will do battle against second tier Georgia in a one-off Test in Mbombela on Saturday, with kick-off at 5.10pm. So far this season, the reigning world champions have beaten the Barbarians and Italy, twice. This is their last game before the Rugby Championship, which starts later next month, The Citizen reports. While the Boks are not expected to be given any difficulties by the Georgians, coach Rassie Erasmus will be hoping for a clinical, clean performance. He'll also have his eyes on a number of individuals who'll hope to get ticks behind their names after the game. Here are seven players who'll have the spotlight on them in Mbombela. Canan Moodie Both Jesse Kriel and Lukhanyo Am are both 31 years old and still young enough to play at the highest level for some time, but the Boks need a back-up outside centre and it appears Erasmus may be backing Moodie in this regard. The 22-year-old performed well in the No 13 jersey against Italy last week and gets another go this Saturday. Ethan Hooker (22) will also be an option going forward, as well as Heno van Wyk (24), if he can stay injury-free. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu The battle for the Bok No 10 jersey is as fierce as it has ever been with World Cup winners Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok eyeing the 2027 World Cup in Australia. But, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a seriously talented play-maker who's received plenty of backing by the Boks. Feinberg-Mngomezulu started against the Barbarians and had a decent game, while he played off the bench last week against Italy, so this is another big game for him. Erasmus will want a quality all-round showing. Cobus Wiese The well-travelled Wiese made his debut only last week, against Italy, from the bench, but this week has been thrown into the deep end, by being handed a start, and that from No 8. He replaces his suspended brother Jasper. A powerful ball-carrier, the regular lock is an additional lineout option. With Cameron Hanekom and Juarno Augustus injured and the Boks seemingly not favouring Evan Roos, this is an opportunity for Wiese to show he can fulfil a utility forward role. Siya Kolisi The two-time-winning Bok captain has had an up-and-down year. He was in and out of the Sharks team, playing openside flank and No 8 and picked up a few niggles as the Test season was getting underway. This will be his first match for the Boks this season. While his place in the squad is not in jeopardy right now, he will have to show over the coming months he is still the right man for the No 6 jersey and to lead the Boks, and that starts in Mbombela. Neethling Fouche The Stormers tighthead prop has had to bide his time, mainly because Frans Malherbe also plays his rugby in the Cape, but he will finally get his Bok cap on Saturday, and what an opportunity awaits him, against an expected strong Georgian front row. A good showing, alongside two other debutants, will stand him in good stead, especially considering Malherbe, Vincent Koch, Thomas du Toit and Asenathi Ntlabakanye will all have aspirations of playing at the next World Cup. Marnus van der Merwe Not too many South Africans will know Van der Merwe, 28, who played his rugby at the Cheetahs before heading abroad to Scarlets in Wales. But he's been in Erasmus' focus for a while and now gets a chance to stake a claim for one of the Boks' two or three hooker options going forward. Joseph Dweba didn't cut it, while Andre Hugo-Venter hasn't featured again since making his debut last year; a good showing on Saturday could see Van der Merwe get an extended run. Boan Venter Another player locals might not know too much about, but like Marnus van der Merwe, the 28-year-old has also been around for a while and is hardly a rookie. After starting out at the Cheetahs he made a name for himself at Edinburgh in Scotland, for who he has played for five years now. With Steven Kitshoff no longer available the Boks are certainly on the lookout for another loosehead option. Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Thomas du Toit are in the mix behind Ox Nche, but could Venter make a breakthrough in Mbombela?
TimesLIVE
18-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
The question is how, not if, the Boks will win — by Georgia!
It's been a near-perfect month of international rugby for the Springboks in preparation for a successful defence of the Rugby Championship, which starts mid-August. All that remains is an injury-free hit out against Georgia in which squad depth continues to be built. July has been about squad depth for Rassie Erasmus and his long-term build towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Erasmus has been insistent that he can build, think 2027 and win short term. Winning is a habit, and it is easier to introduce new players into a winning system. Georgia, physically always a worthy opponent, especially in the set piece, will offer resistance, but they will be outclassed in player pedigree regardless of the match 23 selected for this one-off Test. Erasmus, post Saturday, would have given every squad player game time, some more than others, but every single player has seen action from the season's opener against the Barbarians in Cape Town, through the two Tests against Italy and the final Bok Test of July on Saturday. The Bok coach would have used five fullbacks, with four starting and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's cameo last Saturday as a late substitute introduction. He has tried different wing combinations in all but two of the four matches. Equally the midfield and he has given Handré Pollard, Manie Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at No 10. Hopefully, this time the memory of being in South Africa will be more pleasant for the Georgians. Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg have each got two starts at No 9, with veteran World Cup winners Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach introduced in the last quarter of those matches in which they have made the match 23. The loose-forward options have also been many. Pieter-Steph du Toit is comfortably the first choice No 7 and he plays his second successive Test after a six-month absence and operation-enforced layoff. Siya Kolisi gets his first match of the four, having been rested for the Barbarians match and the two Tests against Italy. Bok record-holder (in Test appearances) Eben Etzebeth is back for a second start in four, having also had limited game time in the United Rugby Championship for the Sharks, while hooker Malcolm Marx gets a rest this Saturday having been involved in the first three matches. Erasmus has introduced new players and each new selection would have been capped by Saturday night. He has used Jesse Kriel and Salmaan Moerat as captains, restored Kolisi's armband for Saturday and spoken of his confidence in Du Toit and Etzebeth's ability to lead the Boks, as they have done in the past. He has also said that players like Pollard and Feinberg-Mngomezulu had the rugby IQ and EQ to captain the Boks, given they had captained South Africa at junior levels. Willie le Roux also became the eighth Bok centurion a week ago, with his 81st start at fullback one more than 102 Test World Cup winner Percy Montgomery's 80 starts as a Test fullback. The Boks and Georgia have only played once, in Pretoria in the warm-up to the British & Irish Lions series in 2021. The Boks won 40-9 in what was their first Test since winning the 2019 World Cup. Covid had put a freeze on the Boks and 26 of the squad contracted the virus after that match, which forced the cancellation of the second Test and meant the only match several of the frontline Boks played before the Lions three-Test series was the SA 'A' match in Cape Town. Several of Georgia's players, management and coaches were also laid low with Covid. Hopefully, this time the memory of being in South Africa will be more pleasant for the Georgians. They are a feisty lot and there is plenty of respect for their size and ability to be a menace in the collisions and at the scrums. It will be a good physical hit out for the Boks, but the real Test stuff begins in August for the Boks and for the Wallabies it all gets real in Brisbane on Saturday when they host the first of three Tests against the British & Irish Lions. Boks by 10 is always my call, meaning there is no question of doubting a Boks win, and in this instance the differential will be closer to 30 than 10.
IOL News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
How Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's football skills will help him steer Springboks' ship in the wet against Barbarians
Springboks captain for the Barbarians match, Jesse Kriel, has a word with flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at the captain's practice on Friday at the DHL Stadium. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Media South African rugby fans probably have Bishops' massive rugby culture to thank for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's decision to take up oval-ball sport instead of football. Last year, during an unbelievable debut season for the Springboks, where he went toe-to-toe with the All Blacks at Ellis Park and came out with the win, his father, Nick Feinberg, mentioned that he was quite the soccer player. This statement is backed up by various videos on social media, where the young flyhalf does some pretty nifty tricks with his feet. 'I maintain Sacha was as good if not a better footballer than a rugby player,' Feinberg told the Daily Voice last year. 'In my opinion, he could have made it in the 'Beautiful Game'. You can check him on TikTok doing stuff with a rugby ball that most footballers can't do with a football'. He does it on a rugby field as well, as his juggling act with the ball at his feet before scoring against the Lions in a United Rugby Championship match still fresh in everybody's memory. But that football background is noticeable in his kicking game, as he has a variety of kicking options, whether it is a very high bomb, a flat kick to find a '50-22' or just a little dink to collect himself. His kicking game is really an underrated part of his game because of the other special skills in his armoury, such as his passing and running games, which has already been compared to the All Black great and flyhalf GOAT Dan Carter. 'Some people don't understand how strong his kicking game is. He is a natural footballer. He can do things with a ball that I, coming from the township, can't do!' assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said with a smile at the Springboks' captain's press conference on Friday. Feinberg-Mngomezulu's kicking game and game management will certainly be in the spotlight in the Boks' first outing of 2025 when they take on the Barbarians at the DHL Stadium in his hometown of Cape Town on Saturday. Heavy rains continue to lash the Mother City and Saturday is expected to only clear up shortly before the match starts at 5.10pm. So the plan may be to kick a lot more in behind the dangerous Barbarians' backline. But Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the type of player that loves to go off-script and chance his arm when he sees an opportunity to run. Most times it works out for the best, which makes him such a joy to watch. But sometimes he tends to overplay a bit, like in the Stormers' URC quarter-final against Glasgow Warriors, where he tried to force the issue on his own and not bring other players into the game. One thing about Feinberg-Mngomezulu is that he doesn't sulk when he makes a mistake and tends to brush off quite quickly. Another mark of a champion. 'One thing about him, he has got a very big heart for such a young man. That is one thing I enjoy about him,' Stick said. 'Even if he makes mistakes he can bounce back and still back himself to make the decisions. We always want our attacking players to keep asking questions. 'He is young and he is going to make mistakes, but we enjoy watching him try. The impact that he makes for the team is the most important thing for us. 'I have never seen a youngster mature like he has, how he conducts himself around the team. His leadership skills … he is definitely one for the future.'
