Some fans and critics may view Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s selection as the starting flyhalf for the Springboks against Australia on Saturday as a risk, but not Rassie Erasmus.
The Stormers playmaker may be just 22 years old and only have four Test caps to his name, but the Bok coach has all the confidence in the world that Feinberg-Mngomezulu can handle the Suncorp Stadium cauldron in the Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane (kick-off 6.30am).
Feinberg-Mngomezulu was chosen ahead of double World Cup-winning pivot Handré Pollard – who is on the bench – yesterday by Erasmus, even though the Boks don’t have a good record in Australia.
The former Junior Bok captain has already shown that he has the temperament for the big occasion, banging over a long-range penalty against Wales at Twickenham on his Test debut earlier this year, and producing some thrilling moments as a replacement fullback against Portugal.
“What do we expect from him?” the Bok boss asked rhetorically.
“Well, to work with guidelines within how we want to play in defence and attack, and then he must bring Sacha to the table – like Handré brings Handré to the table.
“We all know what Manie (Libbok) does when Manie’s on fire, and we are expecting the same from Sacha and are hoping to create that environment where he can be himself and bring the natural talent, like all the other guys.
“It’s his fifth cap, and at the 2019 World Cup, we used to say that we don’t want to go with a guy under eight or nine caps. I think it’s been well- documented that there hasn’t been a World Cup won with a flyhalf who was less than 24 years old – Jonny Wilkinson was the youngest.
“So, rather blood a guy now ... get him some proper back-up and nice experience like Damian (de Allende) on his outside.”
Apart from De Allende, Feinberg-Mngomezulu will also have experienced scrumhalf Cobus Reinach to guide him, with Grant Williams on the bench.
The other big selection call was at No 8, with Elrigh Louw getting the nod ahead of Kwagga Smith, with Evan Roos not selected and having undergone shoulder surgery.
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“I bring you back to the squad principle: it’s nice to get a guy to play his fifth cap, and not his first cap. He’s now settled, has been in and out of the team,” Erasmus said about Louw.
“He can play seven and eight, is certainly a physical and fast player, definitely an aggressive player. Bad luck on Evan not getting selected and now having an operation. Jasper is back, Duane retired last year, Elrigh was always on the radar ...
“It’s not his (Louw’s) first start, so he can’t be too nervous. He’s quite settled and playing with a lot of guys who play with him (at the Bulls). Hopefully, he’s nice and calm, and brings the physical side of things, like Jasper and all the other guys do.”
Erasmus added that lock RG Snyman picked up a niggle during practice yesterday and may miss the Test, which is likely to see Ruan Nortjé go straight into the No 5 jersey.
Meanwhile, the Bok coach stated that he was delighted that captain Siya Kolisi was set to return to SA to play for the Sharks, following a difficult season with French club Racing 92 in Paris.
“We actually didn’t want him back, but his agent kept on nagging and nagging. No, I’m joking,” he said.
“When we heard Siya wants to come back, it is out-and-out a Sharks decision. Then we obviously back it up if we want to support something like that, and we support him 100%. It’s lovely to have him – they will obviously officially announce it.
“They asked us to join up in the conversation, if we want him back, and our answer was ‘yes, obviously’. It’s nice to have your captain in your country.”
Springbok starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt), 5 RG Snyman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche; Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handré Pollard.