SELECTION SHAKE-UP: Glimpse of Bok future as Rassie picks Feinberg-Mngomezulu to start against Wallabies

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus gave a glimpse of the future by naming the prodigiously talented Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to start at flyhalf against Australia in Brisbane.

 The need for squad regeneration is always a factor in the first year following a Rugby World Cup, and Erasmus has given a pointer to the future.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu will make his first start after impressive appearances off the bench against Wales, Ireland and Portugal last month.

 He will form a new halfback pairing with Cobus Reinach, who is preferred over Grant Williams to start at Lang Park (formerly Suncorp Stadium), while No 8 Elrigh Louw makes his first start after four previous Tests from the bench.

 The change at starting flyhalf, with Handré Pollard included in a six/two bench split, is part of a plan to ensure that Feinberg-Mngomezulu has about 30 caps by the next World Cup in Australia. It’s also a nod to the Boks’ new ambitious approach and, of course, the nature of the opposition.

 Short- and long-term goals

Attack coach Tony Brown would certainly have played a role in making a case for Feinberg-Mngomezulu to start while the Bok management assessed both short- and long-term goals when deciding on the lineup to face the Wallabies.

 Australia are also likely to play a game with more tempo and look to move the ball, which would suit Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s skills.

“It’s (Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s selection) definitely a look to the future. As we say internally, we can’t look too far ahead and forget the present, but we can’t just look at the present either,” Erasmus said from Brisbane where the Boks have been preparing.

 “I counted nine guys who weren’t regulars prior to the World Cup last year that we are rotating in and out currently. I wouldn’t say it’s a changing of the guard. It’s giving guys opportunity while guys like Handré and Manie (Libbok) can help nurture them.

 Read more: Boks head to Australia – ready to own their destiny and not make excuses

“It’s only Sacha’s fifth cap. I don’t think there has been a World Cup won with a team where the flyhalf is less than 24-years-old and who has experience. Jonny Wilkinson (England 2003) was the youngest.

 “So, I’d rather blood a guy now and give him some proper back-up with players like Handré and Damian (inside centre de Allende) on his outside.

 “It’s the same for Elrigh (Louw), who is playing his fifth Test. It’s a squad of 45 guys trying to win each Test match, but certainly with a look to the future.”

A 100% goal-kicking record

In his brief Test career Feinberg-Mngomezulu also has a 100% cent goal-kicking record, having landed eight out of eight attempts since his introduction.

 Success from the tee is another very important aspect of why Feinberg-Mngomezulu is preferred to Libbok, who offers similar attacking skills.

“His (Feinberg-Mngomezulu) goal-kicking has also been impressive, and we know that against teams like Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina the margins are very small, so every point will count,” Erasmus said, further indicating that this might be a permanent flyhalf change.

 “We’re also keen to see what Elrigh brings to the game, given his consistently strong performances for the Bulls in the last few seasons and off the bench against Portugal. With Pieter-Steph (du Toit) and Siya (Kolisi) alongside him, he’ll have good guidance to play to his strengths and do what he does best.”

 Other changes

 The match-23 features only three changes from the group that faced the Irish, with the only new players being Louw (No 8), two-time Rugby World Cup-winning scrumhalf Reinach, and replacement utility forward Ben-Jason Dixon.

  Only six players are retained in the squad from the 64-21 win over Portugal at the end of July in Louw, Reinach, Dixon, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, RG Snyman (lock) and Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing).

  Erasmus said that Snyman had picked up a niggle at training on Tuesday and would be monitored for the rest of the week. Ruan Nortjé is on standby.

 Erasmus again named a powerful bomb squad with a front row of Malcolm Marx (hooker), Gerhard Steenekamp and Vincent Koch (both props), alongside Dixon, Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith.

 “One of the big talking points for us as a team from the beginning of the season was that we need to get the balance right between selecting teams featuring youth and experience as we build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

 “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.

 Key players rested

“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 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.

 “We only face southern hemisphere opposition in the Rugby Championship now, so we know they’ll pose a completely different challenge to the sides we’ve faced to date,” said Erasmus.

 “They are also playing on their home turf where they have a good track record against us in the last few years (the Boks have won once in Australia against the Wallabies in the past 10 years), so we know it’s going to be a massive challenge.

 “The fact that they are facing the world champions at home and knowing full well that they are hosting the 2027 World Cup will also inspire them, while we also have no doubt that they are desperate to climb the world rankings. 

 “They are a well-coached team with good playmakers, so they’ll definitely be charged up for Saturday’s match-up.”

 Erasmus emphasised the importance of a good start to the competition:

 “We have a challenging campaign with two away games against Australia and then two Tests against New Zealand at home, before making a short trip to Santiago where we will face Argentina, and then we wrap up the tournament against Los Pumas in Nelspruit, so it will be vital for us to start well and build good momentum.” DM

 Springbok team:

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 RG Snyman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Reserves: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handré Pollard.