Springboks: Rassie Erasmus reacts to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s ‘brilliance’ after Willie Le Roux’s injury

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has spoken glowingly about rookie back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s performance against Ireland.

The 22-year-old has featured in all three of South Africa’s three matches so far this year coming off the bench to feature at fly-half against Wales and the first Test against Ireland, earning his debut in the former.

However, he was thrown into the deep end just two minutes into the series-deciding clash between the Springboks and Ireland on Saturday in Durban after Willie Le Roux was forced off due to a head knock.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s performance

Le Roux, renowned for his ability to run the Springbok attack, was thundered into James Lowe’s knee and was forced off the pitch and unable to return.

This led to Feinberg-Mngomezulu playing the remainder of the match at fullback, a position he has filled several times for the Stormers.

Reacting to the youngster’s performance, Erasmus admitted that Le Roux’s absence impacted the attack but added that he was impressed overall.

“Willie is not the youngest or fatest player anymore but his vision and feel for the game is brilliant and our attack functions a bit better with him, linking the centres and the wings well,” Erasmus said.

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“It is sad to lose today, but the experience that Sacha got from playing one of the best teams and most structured teams in the world, he will take that and use that experience going forward.

“Sacha definitely brings something else to the game with individual brilliance that’s not always structured.

“He did not look out of place and it was just his third game.”

Looking ahead, Erasmus added: “It’s going to be really interesting to see how they all compete for the different spots in the future when a guy like Gaza [Damian Willemse] and Canan [Moodie] come back.”

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Springboks v Ireland rivalry

Meanwhile, Siya Kolisi believes that the rivalry with Ireland has now firmly been established and rued his side’s slow start.

“In the first half, the intensity and the physicality, they were in charge of that and we were just playing catch-up,” the Bok skipper told Sky Sports.

“We weren’t as intense as last week and they were dominating us physically. We did well to fight back.”

On the rivalry, he added: “It definitely is [a rivalry] because it was tight last week, it was tight this week and at the World Cup too.

“Obviously at the moment, they have the upper hand. We’ll work hard, learn from this and I’m sure we’ll see them again.”

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