Feinberg-Mngomezulu: What people 'don't understand' about Boks' 10 contest

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is set to return to the rugby field for the first time since May 30 in this weekend’s Springboks clash with Los Pumas in Buenos Aires, and the star playmaker says he’s ready to hit the ground running after a positive rehab from his high ankle sprain.

The injury took the young Bok star out of the Stormers’ URC playoff push and the opening block of Tests in the new international season, delaying his 20th cap until this weekend’s Estadio José Amalfitani fixture.

In his absence, Handrè Pollard, Manie Libbok and Test newcomer Vusi Moyo each got a chance to run out at 10 for the Boks, all leading the team to commanding wins to highlight their nation’s depth of talent.

But any suggestion that the cohort was in a tense race for the prized No.10 jersey, with the potential for relationships to be strained in the process, was shot down by Feinberg-Mngomezulu ahead of his return.

“I don’t think people understand how much we help each other,” he explained to reporters in the Argentine capital. “Today, Handrè was telling me about the field, the dimensions, how close the stands are to the pitch. We really take good care of each other, and there’s massive amounts of respect.

“Also, one must never forget, even though I’m growing and this is going to be my 20th cap on Saturday, I still have the utmost respect for Handrè Pollard and what he’s done for this country and for this team. Not for a second will I see him as competition; he’s my mentor. He’s my friend. And he’s a great teammate to learn from.”

The statement of camaraderie comes after a season in which Feinberg-Mngomezulu took the step into rugby superstardom and grabbed the N0.10 shirt with both hands, starting in nine of his 12 Test appearances.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

0

Wins

4

Average Points scored

21

39

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

With his ankle issue now in the rearview, the 24-year-old has the opportunity to further his ascension, and he can do so against the team he scored a Springbok record of 37 points against in a single game last year.

But he’s also been revisiting the following week’s sequel performance against Argentina in his mind, and he’s not satisfied with what he recalls.

“To be honest, the last game I played against them, we won by two points, and I didn’t have my greatest game,” he solemnly reflected. “So I’ve got a couple of things to fix from that game and, unfortunately, that game was already a year ago, so a long time has passed and now it’s just about getting back and building a foundation.

“That last Rugby Championship final, they really put up a fight; they tested us in many areas of the game, and they smoked me once or twice. So I’m not coming in with a big head or anything like that. I’m very humble and just ready to do my job.”

Feinberg-Mngomezulu says he “made the most” of the time he had on his hands during the rehab, using it to “look at the game from a more technical aspect and develop areas of my game that I probably didn’t have time to do before.”

Having watched his fellow No.10s lead the Boks to an unbeaten July, Feinberg-Mngomezulu says his job is not to reinvent the wheel, but play the role his team needs.

“I went to Loftus to go watch that game against England, and the one thing I can say is the Springbok team functions whoever is in the picture, so I’m just coming in and trying to facilitate that and just keep progressing our game and keep us functioning and take control of the departments that matter in my position.

“I’m really just trying to build. Again, I don’t feel too far behind as I’ve worked really hard on my rehab.”

Helping him achieve that task will be a familiar halves partner in Cobus Reinach. The Stormers teammates have built a formidable partnership for both club and country over the past year, and there is no one Feinberg-Mngomezulu would rather have by his side for his return.

“I love Cobus, firstly,” he grinned. “And I’ll never forget the first time we played the All Blacks, and I wanted to take a shot at goal from a wide distance, and he was the one that pointed at the goal for me. That will forever stick out, and that defines our relationship. He really takes me under his wing, but we’re also good buddies.

“I love that guy, and sharing the field with him at his ripe age of 37 or 38, it’s brilliant, and it takes a lot of pressure off me. I really love the guy.”

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus then interjected to point out Reinach’s age is 35.

“He likes pulling the old card,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu joked. “But he moves, he’s fitter than a lot of the guys, and he’s fast, and he uses his experience to help guys like myself.”