Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu already has a level of confidence in his game that borders on the precocious or cocky, so it was understandable that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus tried to keep him rooted to the ground after his record-breaking performance at Kings Park.
Yet Erasmus struggled with that attempt for he also couldn’t hide his admiration. He described Feinberg-Mngomezulu as “brilliant”, which was an understatement after the 23-year-old Stormers’ player had announced himself on the world stage with a hat-trick of tries and a record-breaking 37 points of his own in a handsome 67-30 win.
Durban on Saturday, in a game that should forever be remembered as “the Sacha Test”, was the day he showed the rest of the world what many South Africans already knew — that he could be set to be a global superstar in the sport.
In 50 years of watching or covering rugby, I have never seen a more complete Bok flyhalf, and arguably that holds for the global game too. Locally Naas Botha was the supreme No 10, but he played at a time when he didn’t need to have the all-round skills Feinberg-Mngomezulu has. Henry Honiball and Handré Pollard would be tied for next best in my book, but both of them were blessed with specific skills rather than a completely all-round skillset like Sacha has.
Dan Carter from the first decade and a half of this millennium was a star for the All Blacks and was the best in the world in that era, and then way back we had Phil Bennett and I always revered the Pumas’ legend of yesteryear, Hugo Porta. On the evidence of what Feinberg-Mngomezulu has done so far, and the gifts he is blessed with, it is easy to argue already that provided he remains fit and continues to develop, he should belong at least in that bracket if not beyond it.
Carter was good, but I am not sure you’d use the word “wizard” as aptly to describe his play as you could when referring to Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Think about it — how often do flyhalves score a hat-trick of tries? And that was far from the signature of his performance. There were also the tries he set up for those around him, his immaculate field kicking game, his close to perfect place-kicking and the combination of jinking, sheer pace and deft handling that had the Pumas’ defenders diving at shadows from around the half-hour mark.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu in many ways embodies the evolution of SA rugby in the past few years. This country was always feared and respected for the quality of the forwards and the sheer power and physicality the Boks bring to their game. While there have been some great backs, and Bryan Habana was a standout at the 2007 World Cup, the team hasn’t been as top heavy with backs as forwards who can be considered generational players.
But now the Boks have several — Feinberg-Mngomezulu should go to the World Cup in 2027 recognised as a rival for France’s Antoine Dupont’s status as the best rugby player in the world, Damian Willemse is also a generational talent, and Canan Moodie was so brilliant at Kings Park and is yet so young. Ethan Hooker is at an embryonic stage of his international career and his future may be in the midfield but right now he’s making great strides as a wing.
And yet there’s Kurt-Lee Arendse, Edwill van der Merwe, a fit again Lukyanyo Am, Jesse Kriel and Moodie in his way in the two positions he does play. Just like the wizard that is Feinberg-Mngomezulu has world-class back-up in the form of Manie Libbok and Pollard.
Did I say those players are back-up players? They may well be the case for surely after that performance Sacha has nailed down his place now. While he may not play every game, he has to be considered the first-choice pivot and he’s on the road to be the world leader in that position.
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