Former Springbok boss identifies area Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu must improve after All Blacks series
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Improvements.
Former Springbok head coach Nick Mallett has identified game management as the next major area for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to develop following his run at fly-half against the All Blacks.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu was handed the No.10 jersey throughout Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, starting all four Tests as South Africa claimed a 3-1 series victory over New Zealand.
The 24-year-old will move to the bench for Sunday’s clash with Australia in Perth, with Handré Pollard returning to the starting side.
After watching Feinberg-Mngomezulu operate as South Africa’s first-choice fly-half against the All Blacks, Mallett believes there is little question over his ability.
Instead, the former Bok boss believes the next stage of his development is learning when to use the considerable range of options available to him.
“Sacha’s big lessons are game-management lessons. He has to understand what quality ball he’s getting at what time,” Mallett said on the Talking Boks podcast.
“At any given time he should be looking at the quality of ball that’s been delivered to him and take a decision based on the quality of that ball.”
Mallett pointed specifically to situations where South Africa are receiving untidy possession from the lineout.
Rather than automatically attempting to bring the backline into the game, he believes Feinberg-Mngomezulu needs to recognise when circumstances demand a more conservative approach.
“If it’s tap ball in the lineout and the players are pouring through, don’t pass that ball on to your backline. You’ve got to take it up yourself or stick it up in the air if you’ve got time to do that,” he said.
“If it’s really good ball, then you’re going to play your backline. If you’ve taken it through two or three phases and you haven’t got momentum, fall back on the kicking game that we’ve got at our disposal.”
It’s an interesting assessment following a series in which Feinberg-Mngomezulu was given significant responsibility by Rassie Erasmus.
Mallett stressed that he doesn’t see a technical weakness in the Stormers playmaker’s game. In fact, he believes Feinberg-Mngomezulu already possesses all the tools required of an international fly-half.
The challenge is choosing the right one at the right moment.
“It’s those decisions that he needs to take better, I would say. It’s not that he can’t do any of it. He can do every single one, but is he doing it at the right time for the players around him?
“Sometimes it might be there for him to break the line because he sees a half-gap, but there’s a four-on-two, and he should pass. Obviously you should pass with a four-on-two.
“Game management is where he can improve.”
Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s move to the bench in Perth brings an end to a run of five consecutive Test starts, including all four matches against New Zealand.
Pollard will now get his opportunity at No.10 against the Wallabies, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu remains among Erasmus’ replacements
