South Africans got a brief glimpse into an exciting future when young Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu helped steer the Springboks to victory over the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
A first match against the old enemy at the spiritual home of South African rugby for Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and he admitted that he was feeling the stress and the weight of expectation on his 22-year-old shoulders.
All that stress and pressure ended up being released in the changeroom in the form of a few tears, after the new star of South African rugby delivered a top all-round performance to properly announce his arrival on the Springboks’ stage.
It’s one thing doing it against the likes of Portugal and the hapless Wallabies, but it’s a totally different story when it comes to the Springboks versus All Blacks at Ellis Park.
Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick is under no illusions that anything but a complete performance from his charges will be enough to beat the All Blacks in their Rugby Championship clash, at Ellis Park, on Saturday.
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‘There was a lot of pressure on me’
“This is my dream man. I don’t even want to get emotional again [talking about it]. All Blacks at Ellis Park, there was a lot of pressure on me,” a visibly emotional Feinberg-Mngomezulu said after the match.
“I really wanted to do well for the team, helping us get the victory was just special for me. Driving into the stadium ... it was just amazing. I’m just super proud to be a Springbok.”
Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicked 16 points in the win, including a 61m penalty in the first half. He also kicked a penalty late in the game close to the All Blacks’ tryline, which set up a maul that the Springboks from which they scored.
Yes, he also made the odd mistake. But what 22-year-old kid in that atmosphere and against the fired up All Blacks is going to be perfect?
Perfection, however, is something that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is chasing. He admitted that he is not yet the finished product, and still sees Handre Pollard as South Africa’s first-choice No 10.
“It’s definitely a stepping stone [winning a game against the All Blacks]. But I’m still learning man, not a complete No 10 yet,” said Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
“Handre is a great flyhalf and I’m just learning from him. I see him as our number one 10. I got work to do still. The results help and it progressed me faster, but I’m not close to the finished product yet.”
So what does Feinberg-Mngomezulu need to become the best?
“Experience doesn’t kill anybody ... how to control your emotions, make the right calls. It’s pretty much everything. I’m only 22-years-old, so I still have a lot to learn.”