Springboks Coach Rassie Erasmus Provides Verdict on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu South Africa’s Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, has expressed his views on the recent appointment of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as a Springboks assistant coach. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who previously worked with the Bulls and the Sharks, joined the national setup in December 2022 as the new attack coach. Erasmus welcomed his addition to the team, stating that he brings a wealth of experience and expertise. “Sacha is a highly experienced coach who has worked with some of the best players in South Africa,” Erasmus said. “He has a proven track record of developing and enhancing attacking play, which is an area we have identified as a key focus for the Springboks.” Erasmus highlighted Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s ability to build strong relationships with players and his understanding of the modern game. “He is a very good communicator and has a deep understanding of the game’s intricacies,” Erasmus added. “He has already started to make a positive impact on the team, and I am excited to see what he can achieve with the Springboks.” Feinberg-Mngomezulu has expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to coach the national team and is eager to contribute to their success. “It is an honor to be part of the Springboks coaching team,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu said. “I am surrounded by some of the best coaches and players in the world, and I am looking forward to learning from them and doing my part to help the team achieve its goals.” The Springboks are currently in the midst of a challenging period, having lost their last three matches. Erasmus remains confident in the team’s ability to turn things around and has backed Feinberg-Mngomezulu to play a key role in that process. “I believe Sacha can make a significant contribution to the Springboks,” Erasmus said. “He has the knowledge, the experience, and the passion to help us improve our attack and achieve our goals.”Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has lauded the performance of rookie defender Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu against Ireland.Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has lauded the performance of rookie defender Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu against Ireland. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 22, has featured in all three of South Africa’s matches this year, starting at fly-half against Wales and in the first Test against Ireland, making his debut in the former. However, he faced a technical problem just two minutes into the series decider between the Springboks and Ireland on Saturday in Durban after Willie Le Roux was forced off with a head knock. Le Roux, known for his ability to marshal the Springboks’ attack, was hit hard by James Lowe and was unable to return. Feinberg-Mngomezulu played the remainder of the match at fullback, a position he has occupied several times for the Stormers. Reacting to the youngster’s performance, Erasmus admitted that Le Roux’s absence had affected the attack but added that he was impressed overall. “Willie is no longer the youngest or fattest player, but his vision and sense of play are brilliant and our attack works a bit better with him, linking well with the crosses and the wings,” said Erasmus. “It is sad to lose today, but the experience that Sacha gained from playing against one of the best and most structured teams in the world, he will take advantage of and use that experience in the future. “Sacha definitely brings something more to the game with individual brilliance that isn’t always structured. “He didn’t look out of place and it was only his third game.” Looking ahead, Erasmus added: “It will be really interesting to see how everyone competes for the different positions in the future when a guy like Gaza (Damian Willemse) and Canan (Moodie) come back.” Meanwhile, Siya Kolisi believes the rivalry with Ireland is now firmly established and lamented his side’s slow start. ‘In the first half, the intensity and physicality, they were in charge of that and we were just trying to catch up with them,’ the Bok captain told Sky Sports. “We weren’t as intense as last week and they dominated us physically. We did well to counterattack.” On the rivalry, he added: “It definitely is (a rivalry) because it was close last week, it was close this week and also at the World Cup. “It is clear that they have the advantage at the moment. We will work hard, we will learn from this and I am sure we will see them again.”Rassie Erasmus has defended his decision to select Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the Springboks squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship, despite the Sharks prop’s lack of Test experience. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has only played one game for the Springboks, coming off the bench against Georgia in 2021. However, Erasmus believes that the 24-year-old has the potential to be a valuable asset to the team. “Sacha is a young player with a lot of potential,” said Erasmus. “He’s a big, strong prop who is good in the scrum and has a good work rate. We think he can add something to the team and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop.” Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s selection has been met with some criticism, with some pundits questioning whether he has the experience to play at Test level. However, Erasmus is confident that the young prop is ready to make the step up. “I understand that some people might be surprised by Sacha’s selection, but we have a lot of faith in him,” said Erasmus. “We think he has the potential to be a great player for the Springboks and we’re excited to see what he can do.” Feinberg-Mngomezulu will get his chance to prove himself when the Springboks take on Wales in the first match of the Rugby Championship on July 2.