The selection of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf is the major talking point from the Springboks’ team announcement on Tuesday.
In summary, it appears he has leapfrogged Manie Libbok in the pecking order, while his selection also serves notice on Handre Pollard in terms of competition at 10.
Here are three reasons why the Springboks have clearly opted to back Sacha at 10
Goal-kicking
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has impressed with his composed accuracy in front of poles, and with Libbok and Pollard struggling a bit in this department, it was a clear reason in this interesting selection.
“His (Sacha’s) goal-kicking has been impressive, and we know that against teams like Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina the margins are very small, so every point will count,” Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus commented.
Attacking ability
With the selection of Feinberg-Mngomezulu alongside speedy scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, it’s very evident that the Springboks are sticking with their plan to continue evolving the team’s attack.
South Africa are likely to look to run the Wallabies off their feet in the opening exchanges, before allowing a powerful bomb squad to go nuclear in the second half.
Long-term vision
It’s very evident that the Springbok coaches view flyhalf as Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s best position, while realising that he is the sort of generational talent who should be backed over this next four-year World Cup cycle.
“We’re pleased with the way we’ve been able to integrate some of the young players into the squad this season and give them game time against top opposition,” Erasmus commented.
“We rested several players against Portugal to ensure that we had a fresh squad for the Rugby Championship, while a few young players really grabbed the opportunity to show what they can do in the first four Tests of the season.
“We’re excited to see what they have to offer against a team such as Australia which plays a vastly different style of rugby to that which we faced against Wales, Ireland and Portugal.
“Sacha and Ben-Jason (Dixon) showed proper class when they earned their chance to play this season and we are looking forward to seeing them in action against the Wallabies.”
Stats and facts:
Springbok record against Australia:
Played 93; Won 50; Lost 40; Drawn 3; Points for: 1 860, Points against: 1 653; Tries scored 218, Tries conceded 170; Highest score 61-22 (Pretoria, 1997); Biggest win 45 points (53-8, Johannesburg 2008). Win % 53.8%.
Miscellaneous:
- This will be Eben Etzebeth’s 123rd Test, leaving him four appearances away from equalling Victor Matfield’s Springbok Test record (127).
- Frans Malherbe will extend his number of starts at tighthead prop to 60 Tests, trailing only Tendai Mtawarira (102) and Os du Randt (75).
- The centre pairing of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende will extend their record of playing the most Test matches together in the midfield to 31 (the previous record was held by Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie with 29 Tests).
- Cheslin Kolbe needs four points to reach 100 points in Tests for South Africa.
- Should Kwagga Smith take the field, he will need only six more Test caps to join the club of Springboks with 50 Test caps.
- Willie le Roux will take another step closer to joining select club of Springbok centurions as he earns his 96th cap on Saturday.
- The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 836.
- There are 335 caps in the backline, with 501 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 269 caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline is 47, the forwards 62, while the players on the bench average 33.
