The Welsh may still be reeling from the Cardiff mauling, but they can take pride in helping shape a Springbok star.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu produced another masterclass as he orchestrated a record 73-0 win over the Dragons at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Behind the most dominant pack in world rugby, the 23-year-old left the field with a 28-point haul which included two tries to take his tally to nine tries in 19 Tests – the most by a Springbok flyhalf in history (Morne Steyn and Handre Pollard both scored eight).
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Feinberg-Mngomezulu went to school at Bishops, but a few years ago swapped Cape Town for a four-month sojourn in west Wales.
BBC Sport reports that he attended Llandovery College in Carmarthenshire as part of an exchange programme. The college had also produced famous Welsh rugby alumni such as George North and Alun Wyn Jones.
Wales and Scarlets prop Harri O’Connor was part of that same college team in 2018-19.
“You don’t normally get an exchange student player who is such a high calibre athlete,” he said of Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
“Sacha rushed himself back from a broken bone and when he did play you could tell straight away he was a class above everyone else. Off the pitch, he’s a funny and witty guy.”
Scarlets and Wales U20 scrumhalf Archie Hughes was Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s halfback partner at Llandovery and looks back on the experience as a “privilege”.
“He was injured when he first joined us but when he stared playing you could tell from the first few sessions he was a rich talent and just how full of confidence he was,” said Hughes.
“He had a lot of flair about him and completely backed the skillset he had to offer. It was awesome to play alongside him. I found it so easy. He played [then] like he does now, so energetic, absolutely everywhere on the pitch and commands boys around the park.”
Hughes added: “One key thing that stood out was his tenacity. As well as the skillset, he would throw his body into everything and get stuck in defensively. It made him stand out among other No 10s.”
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Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s grandfather, Barry Feinberg, was a leading figure in the anti-apartheid movement and spent years in exile in England where he had a son Nick, who is Sacha’s father.
In 2022, then England coach Eddie Jones reportedly tried to persuade the young star to play for England but Feinberg-Mngomezulu was determined to play for the Springboks.
In 2024, Feinberg-Mngomezulu made his Test debut – against Wales in Cardiff. On Saturday night, he showcased his full skillset against his former hosts.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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