FILE - Springboks flyhalf Manie Libbok lines up a kick against Portugal in Bloemfontein earlier this year. Libbok has been overtaken in the flyhalf pecking order by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, but still has a lot to offer the Boks. FILE - Springboks flyhalf Manie Libbok lines up a kick against Portugal in Bloemfontein earlier this year. Libbok has been overtaken in the flyhalf pecking order by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, but still has a lot to offer the Boks. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has announced himself on the international stage for the Springboks this year, with a maturity that is beyond his tender years.
He plays the game with a freedom and confidence of a veteran. The 22-year-old backs himself and his abilities, passing most tests thrown at him with flying colours, and showing that the future of the coveted Bok number 10 jersey is in very good hands.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu entered the international stage this year against Wales by nonchalantly kicking an 55-metre penalty.
The Stormers kid is also a ball player in every sense of the word, with a wonderful feeling for the game. He sees things on a rugby field that others don’t, and, combined his tremendous kicking game, it’s scary to think that he has only just scratched the surface of his undoubted potential.
The fact that he kept his knee injury from the coaches was ill-advised, but it also showed a desperation to be part of the Springboks at all costs.
Rassie Erasmus explains that Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be out of action for a few weeks after injuring his knee against the All Blacks 🦵![CDATA[]]>🤕 pic.twitter.com/DQbLOZkp9J
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 18, 2024
The way Rassie Erasmus has managed Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been very good. The Springbok coach has given him the freedom to express himself and has given the youngster room to make mistakes and learn from them.
It’s probably why the broader rugby-loving public has also given the kid a chance to grow in the jersey so that he can properly bloom in the future.
But while Sacha-mania has gripped the country, another talented flyhalf has fallen off the radar.
It’s been a case of “out of sight, out of mind” for Manie Libbok this year, having only featured once for the Springboks against Portugal.
In that match in Bloemfontein, he showed why he was such a threat with ball in hand, a trait that earned him the status that the Boks No 1 flyhalf in heading into last year’s Rugby World Cup.
However, after being taken off after 30 minutes for Handre Pollard in the semi-final against England, Libbok’s confidence seemed to have taken a knock and he hasn’t quite been the same match-winner that fired the Stormers to a United Rugby Championship title.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu from 60m 😮
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 2, 2024
The isiXhosa commentators enjoyed that 🚀 pic.twitter.com/CEKR5B4nB4
The biggest problem has been his inconsistent goal-kicking, which is where Bok flyhalf are harshly judged. It’s a problem that has taken the focus off the other areas of his game where he is arguably better than Pollard and Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
But a Bok flyhalf needs to at least be an 80% goal-kicker, because of how hard the pack of forwards work to provide those penalties. Scoreboard pressure is a massive part of the Boks’ game.
It’s baffling that he struggles off the tee, because he has in the past shown that he can be clutch goal-kicker, especially his match-winning kick in the URC semi-final in 2022.
So ... Is it a technical flaw? Is it confidence? It may be a both.
But it really overshadows his strengths, a brilliant rugby mind who combines his fast feet and hands to create space for himself and those around him.
His passing and ability to read the game is second to none, while we all remember that brilliant no-look kick pass which sent Kurt-Lee Arendse away against Scotland in the World Cup.
One year ago, Manie Libbok pulled off one of the most impressive kicks we've ever seen 😱#RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/XmQZpVsY5v
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 10, 2024
At 27, Libbok still has a lot to offer the Springboks and it would be foolish to write him off. I’m sure Erasmus and the Springboks haven’t.
If the Stormers man can somehow sort out his goalkicking, he can be the perfect instrument to combine the Springboks’ power game with the plans that new attack coach Tony Brown is trying to implement.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu is indeed the future, but Libbok still has a lot to offer in the now.
@JohnGoliath82