Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has all the makings of a Springbok legend, writes Jon Cardinelli.

The Springboks have a long history of blooding talented f lyhalves at a young age.

The likes of Handré Pollard, Damian Willemse and Frans Steyn have gone on to win multiple World Cups, while some, such as Johan Goosen, have failed to realise their full potential, winning just 13 caps after a whirlwind debut season in 2012.

Some could be wondering where the supremely gifted Sacha FeinbergMngomezulu might finish up.

The Stormers utility back has been on coach Rassie Erasmus’ radar for some time, and was given the opportunity to train with the senior Bok side and represent the South Africa A team in late 2022.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu made the step up to test level in 2024, winning eight caps for the Boks.

The 22-year-old made an impression on debut – slotting a 55 m penalty goal against Wales at Twickenham – and in the subsequent two-match series against Ireland.

Erasmus raised a few eyebrows when he backed Feinberg-Mngomezulu to start big matches against Australia and New Zealand, but the young flyhalf showed his class to boost the side to monumental wins in Brisbane, Perth and Johannesburg.

“We wanted guys like Sacha to experience this level and see if they can handle it. That’s how you learn about their characters,” Erasmus said after the 31–27 win against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.

“Sacha came through with flying colours. But that’s not to say Handré is out or that Manie Libbok is out, we are going to keep on building the squad.”

Erasmus started Pollard in a test against the All Blacks with FeinbergMngomezulu on the bench and the latter player broke down with a serious knee injury, Pollard and Libbok were backed for the two matches against Argentina, and the Boks went on to secure their first Rugby Championship title since 2019.

In one sense, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has already surpassed Goosen and company, as he has contributed to a monumental Rugby Championship title success, and appears destined to play a role at the 2027 World Cup, where Erasmus’s side will be gunning for an unprecedented hat-trick of titles.

That said, the jury is still out as to whether he will emulate Pollard and Steyn for caps and accolades, as he has already sustained a couple of serious leg injuries over the past three seasons, and, as a result, did not travel with the Boks for their three-test tour to the United Kingdom this past November.

According to Erasmus, the player failed to report the extent of that injury to the medical team. While physically gifted, fiercely competitive and exceptionally dedicated, the youngster still has a lot to learn.

“Sacha injured his knee before the f irst test against the All Blacks and he played in that game,” Erasmus revealed.

“The next week on the Wednesday, I asked him why he was limping, and he said that he injured his knee last week. I wanted to pull him out of that team [to play the second test against New Zealand].

“That’s what our players must understand; we have respect for everybody, but we must be honest when it comes to injuries. Nobody who’s got an injury and is 80% ready is better than a Springbok who has no injuries and is 100% ready. So Sacha is lucky that we won those test matches because he gambled a bit.”

Erasmus will not be too grumpy, though. The Boks have continued to build since winning the 2023 World Cup and, for the first time since he took charge in 2018, are spoiled for choice when it comes to the No.10 spot.

While he cast the net wide in 2018 (blooding 19 youngsters that season), he committed to Pollard and to a lesser extent Elton Jantjies in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup.

Steyn travelled to Japan as cover for flyhalf and other backline positions, while Willemse provided a further option.

Veteran Morné Steyn joined the squad for a brief period, and had a significant impact in the third and decisive test against the British & Irish Lions, but decided to hang up his boots after the 2021 Rugby Championship.

The flyhalf crisis of 2022 forced the Boks to look outside of Pollard and Jantjies ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

Pollard broke down with a serious knee injury during the tour of Australia, while Jantjies took a leave of absence to address a series of off-field issues.

Frans Steyn plugged the gap, before succumbing to a knee injury of his own, and eventually retired in early 2023. As a result, the Boks headed to Europe with Willemse as their firstchoice flyhalf.

They attempted to mitigate Willemse’s weakness as a goal-kicker by handing the duties to others in the backline, such as fullback Cheslin Kolbe and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, with mixed results.

Libbok made his debut on that tour, and faced France, Italy and England.

In 2023, while Pollard recovered from yet another leg injury, Willemse and Libbok alternated at No.10.

Libbok was the player entrusted with the responsibility against the All Blacks at Twickenham, and went on to star in a record-breaking victory for the Boks.

While Pollard’s goal-kicking played a decisive role in the winning of the 2023 World Cup in France, it was Libbok’s attacking influence in the quarter-final against the hosts that propelled the Boks into a strong position.

In 2024, Erasmus showed his hand when he named as many as five f lyhalves in his initial training squad.

Jordan Hendrikse started the first test at No.10 due to the unavailability of the senior players, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu provided a further option from the bench.

Siya Masuku, who had guided the Sharks to Challenge Cup glory earlier that season, was also part of the national squad for the first time.

By 2027, Erasmus could have a healthy selection headache. Pollard has been to three World Cups, but is still relatively young in rugby terms, and will be 33 at the global tournament in Australia.

It is worth remembering that Dan Carter, one of the great flyhalves and goal-kickers, was 33 when he won the title with the All Blacks in 2015.

The Boks are moving in a new attacking direction, and Pollard will have to adapt.

At this stage, he has the edge over the other contenders for the No.10 jersey due to an excellent goalkicking record (81%) – and as was seen in the Boks’ three one-point victories in the 2023 World Cup playoffs, one kick can mean the difference between winning and losing. Prior to his injury, Feinberg-Mngomezulu was the Boks’ next best goal-kicker for the 2024 season, with a success-rate of 79%.

Libbok and Willemse have many other gifts, but have struggled with the kicking responsibilities in recent years, with the former missing a late penalty attempt to effectively cost the Boks a win against Argentina in Santiago this past September.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu appears ideally placed to travel with the Boks to the 2027 World Cup, given his ability to cover flyhalf, inside centre and fullback, and his accurate goal-kicking record.

And yet, it remains to be seen whether he will start for the Boks at that tournament or play from the bench.

If he stays fit in the coming years, and gets more opportunities to improve his game management, he may push Pollard and Libbok for the No.10 jersey, and be South Africa’s go-to man.

It is interesting to note that Pollard, in particular, is genuinely looking forward to that challenge.

“I can’t speak highly enough about Sacha and the way he has come into the group,” the veteran said recently.

“He is hungry to learn, of course he’s young and he’s got this unbelievable talent which is great, and that excitement is something that he must never let go.

“For us it’s just about helping him and making him feel comfortable and trying to learn where we can help him out and vice versa. He has taught us a lot of stuff too.”

Ultimately, Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s meteoric rise may bring out the best of South Africa’s more established options.

Erasmus may have a difficult decision to make down the line, however the surfeit of world-class options will certainly boost the Springboks’ quest for another World Cup title.