Prodigy. Generational talent. A legend in the making. You name it the Springbok #937 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been called it.
It is hard to remember this kind of excitement around a South African player making their way up the food chain to the Test arena in such a way where greatness seems inevitable.
“He was born for this sport.”
Those are the words of John Dobson in a conversation with SuperSport when asked about the former Junior Springboks skipper he has been moulding in the blue and white of Western Province and the Stormers.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu is very clearly an exceptionally talented player drawing comparisons to the youngest two-time Rugby World Cup winner Damian Willemse from coach Dobson.
That goes beyond the abilities on the field where he can slot into fly-half, inside centre or full-back with aplomb, kick out of hand or at goal and beat defenders seemingly at will; it extends to mentality. The will to win, the will to be the best.
Competitor
Dobson recalled one particular game in Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s youth career that typifies his competitive nature.
“We played Sacha as an under-19 player at a Toyota Challenge match at fly-half. He made 21 tackles. Now there is no defence system in the world that requires a fly-half to make 21 tackles. The similarities to Gazza (Damian Willemse) is incredible,” Dobson told Supersport.
“The amazing competitiveness, desperation to win, ‘no respect for their own bodies’ type-player’ – which is probably why he has had the injury profile that he had. Neither him nor Damian – while they are amazing steppers and great with ball in hand, it is not what their core is.
“Their core is rugby games, and trying to compete and fight. The highlight reels are great, but that isn’t what Sacha is about. He wants to tackle, carry, smash.”
That winning instinct does not always translate into results and needs to be complemented by other character traits to deal with extreme pressure, be it on the field or from the public off it.
The highlight of Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s debut for many would have been his 50+ metre penalty but for us, it is the calm and unphased manner he went about it. This youngster who is already carrying the weight of expectation casually stepped up and monstered the ball over.
There was no big celebration, no hullabaloo, he just returned to his position. Instead, Rassie Erasmus and Tony Brown were rejoicing.
Even after the game and in other press conferences, he is calm, he speaks well and people want to listen. That kind of attitude and aura has not been seen in a Springbok 10 since Handre Pollard announced himself.
How the Springboks could lineup against Ireland as ‘generational talent’ gets his shot
The weight of the past
As if it couldn’t get more symbolic, outside of his outrageous ability on the field Feinberg-Mngomezulu represents what this Springboks side is all about and that is change.
During the dark days of Apartheid in South Africa, the Springboks were a sporting symbol of the oppressive regime, so much so that the great Nelson Mandela was heavily criticised for refusing to do away with the name and emblem, which has now become a symbol of togetherness.
It was during those troubling times that Anti-Apartheid activist Barry Feinberg (grandfather of Sacha) had to flee the country to England where the Springbok’s father Nick was born.
Barry dreamt that young children of colour could grow up in South Africa and go on to represent the Springboks. Unfortunately, he passed away before his grandson would go on to fulfil this very dream but the power of his struggles live through the young Test star.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu now carries that mantle as a player of colour who has had the opportunity and, most importantly, the pathway to grow towards his potential. He rather fittingly does it as one of the most talented players in a long time.
Time to continue learning
For him, the journey is only beginning and he is looking to do the same things he did to get to the Test arena and that is learn.
“Sponge mentality is me at the moment. I fully understand that I am the new boy in the system at the moment and I have a lot of work to do and a lot of things to fix. With the people around me I am certain that I will get that right,” he said.
“Even yesterday, when we were kicking, I was watching Willie (Le Roux) kick a ball and Handre (Pollard) kick a ball. Every repetition you pick up something, whether it is Jesse (Kriel) warming up or Handre kicking – it is an environment where there are learnings and invaluable experience. I am trying to sponge up as much as possible.”
READ MORE: Springboks squad winners and losers as Rassie Erasmus rewards ‘freakish’ talent and snubs Bulls sensation
