Springbok star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu insists the headlines around his individual brilliance mask what he values most about his remarkable 2025 season.
After a year in which he broke the long-standing Bok point-scoring record in a standout performance against Argentina, the 23-year-old is quick to downplay the notion of solo stardom.
Speaking to News24, Feinberg-Mngomezulu said: “People talk about that game as if it was all instinct and highlights. But for me, it was the best example of executing fundamentals and then adding your own flavour on top of that.”
He explained that the Boks’ kicking game against Argentina was central to their control.
“We kicked the ball about 45 or 46 times. In Test rugby, if you’re kicking over 30 times, you’re normally in a good place. To enforce that without even thinking about it was my proudest takeaway – not the points.”
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Feinberg-Mngomezulu believes his biggest growth this season has come away from the spotlight.
“My improvements have definitely come from a rugby IQ point of view – understanding what we want to achieve as a team, how we want to kick, how we want the pack to move, and how to conserve energy in our half.”
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Preparation, he says, has also been key.
“This year I took it up a notch. Whether it was recovery or homework on the opposition, I knew things would happen on a Saturday because I’d prepared for them.”
He added that his highlights often stem from unseen work.
“People see the crazy moments, but they don’t always ask: am I doing my job as a flyhalf? Are we playing the territory game well? Are we ticking the boxes first?”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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