“He Is My Mentor” – Sacha Silences Springbok No. 10 Rivalry Rumors
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu admits watching the Springboks from the sidelines during his injury lay-off served as a timely reminder of what it means to wear the green and gold.
Despite the world champions continuing to thrive in his absence, the talented flyhalf insists he feels no added pressure as he returns to the starting XV for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The influential playmaker attended South Africa’s Test against England while recovering from injury, using the opportunity to reconnect with the squad and gain a fresh perspective on international rugby.
“Being at the England game was a good experience for me, and it reminded me of what it’s like to play for the Springboks, albeit from a distance,” he said.
The Springboks have operated like a well-oiled machine in Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s absence, with Handré Pollard and Manie Libbok sharing the No. 10 responsibilities.
However, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus dismissed any suggestion that the 24-year-old is under pressure to prove himself because of the depth at flyhalf.
He insisted such thinking goes against the team’s culture, which is built on collective success rather than individual competition.
“For us, it’s not him competing against Handré and Manie,” Erasmus explained.
“Handré is helping him this weekend to perform as well as he can. Handré knows what Sacha needs to do at his age to get things right. That’s the way we operate.”
Erasmus made it clear that South Africa’s three flyhalves complement rather than compete with one another.
“All three of them will definitely be in the Greatest Rivalry squad and will definitely go to the World Cup if they maintain their form.”
The Springbok coach also stressed that injuries are simply part of the game and do not alter his long-term plans.
“He can’t control getting injured. We’ll go with three flyhalves, and they will be the three flyhalves. So it’s more a case of them working together,” Erasmus said.
That collaborative culture is something Feinberg-Mngomezulu believes is often overlooked by those outside the squad.
“I don’t think people understand how much we help each other. Today Handré was telling me about the field, the dimensions of the pitch and how close the stands are to it. We really take good care of each other, and there’s massive respect between us.”
Although Saturday’s match will mark his 20th Test cap, Feinberg-Mngomezulu says Pollard remains a mentor rather than a rival.
“Even though I am growing and this will be my 20th cap on Saturday, I still have the utmost respect for Handré Pollard and what he has done for the country and for this team.
“Not for a second do I see him as competition. He is my mentor, my friend and a great teammate to learn from.”
The Springboks may have continued to deliver while Feinberg-Mngomezulu recovered from injury, but both player and coach insist his return is about strengthening an already formidable squad rather than reclaiming a place from anyone else.
