Erasmus Says Sacha Needs Balance Before Barbarians Clash

(The Post News)– All eyes will be on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu this Saturday as he starts at flyhalf for the Springboks in their season opener against the Barbarians in Cape Town. At 23, the Stormers star has dazzled fans with his flair and creativity, but Bok management are now gently urging him to find the sweet spot between brilliance and game management.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s jaw-dropping passes and daring plays lit up the closing stages of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, but they didn’t come without risk. Against Connacht, for example, he opted for a flashy backflip pass instead of scoring himself, a move that paid off but could’ve cost his team a narrow win.

With this in mind, Coach Rassie Erasmus, attack coach Tony Brown, and veteran fly-half Handre Pollard are helping the young pivot strike a better balance. Erasmus explained that players like Sacha bring something special, and no one’s asking him to shelve his magic. But there’s a time and place for flair, and sometimes a touch of restraint can make all the difference, especially in tight Tests.

Erasmus recalled playing against a young Jonny Wilkinson who wasn’t immediately world-class but grew into the role. Similarly, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, with just eight caps, is still learning. The message from camp? Don’t tone it all down; just know when to dazzle.

There’s no doubt Sacha’s unpredictability is part of what sets him apart. The key now is refining it, not replacing it.