Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has backed Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to start at flyhalf when South Africa face the All Blacks at Ellis Park, explaining why the young playmaker was preferred to the more experienced Manie Libbok.
The decision is one of the major talking points ahead of the opening Test of the highly anticipated South Africa-New Zealand series.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has endured a disrupted period after injury setbacks kept him out for a significant portion of the Stormers’ season and delayed his involvement in the Springboks’ 2026 campaign.
His return came earlier this month against Argentina, where he understandably showed signs of rust, particularly with his kicking.
That performance had led to speculation that Libbok could get the starting nod against New Zealand. Erasmus, however, has once again opted to trust the youngster.
Why Erasmus backed Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Erasmus pointed to Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s previous success against the All Blacks as one of the reasons behind the selection.
The 23-year-old started at flyhalf when the Springboks produced a dominant 43-10 victory over New Zealand in Wellington last year.
According to Erasmus, the selection was not based purely on reputation or combinations. Instead, the coaching staff considered which players best understand the team’s tactical approach and have performed strongly during training.
“Sacha has done wonderful things for us when he’s played.”
That confidence could be significant for Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who now has the opportunity to prove that he can handle the pressure of starting a major Test against one of the world’s most dangerous teams.
Exciting halfback combination for the Boks
Feinberg-Mngomezulu will form a relatively youthful halfback partnership with Grant Williams, who starts at scrumhalf.
Experienced options Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok will provide additional firepower from the replacements bench.
Erasmus also stressed that selection decisions are not always based on club combinations, despite Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach both having connections to the Stormers environment.
The Springboks will therefore be hoping the combination of Williams and Feinberg-Mngomezulu can provide the tempo, tactical control and attacking spark needed to unsettle the All Blacks.
Damian de Allende set for special milestone
Another major storyline surrounding the Test is Damian de Allende’s impending 100th international appearance.
Erasmus praised the experienced centre’s contribution to the Springboks and said the team was determined to make the occasion memorable.
However, the coach stressed that De Allende has remained focused on his responsibilities rather than allowing the milestone to become a distraction.
His experience in the midfield could prove particularly valuable against an All Blacks backline packed with attacking threats.
Springboks vs All Blacks: The starting line-ups
Springboks
15 Damian Willemse
14 Cheslin Kolbe
13 Jesse Kriel
12 Damian de Allende
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
9 Grant Williams
8 Jasper Wiese
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c)
6 Paul de Villiers
5 Ruan Nortjé
4 Eben Etzebeth
3 Wilco Louw
2 Malcolm Marx
1 Ox Nché
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, André Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.
All Blacks
15 Damian McKenzie
14 Will Jordan
13 Quinn Tupaea
12 Jordie Barrett
11 Josh Moorby
10 Ruben Love
9 Cam Roigard
8 Ardie Savea (c)
7 Luke Jacobson
6 Tupou Vaa’i
5 Fabian Holland
4 Josh Lord
3 Tyrel Lomax
2 Codie Taylor
1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Leroy Carter.
A huge opportunity for Sacha
With kick-off scheduled for 17:10 in Johannesburg, all eyes will be on Feinberg-Mngomezulu as he takes responsibility for steering the Springboks from flyhalf.
Erasmus has made his decision — now the young No. 10 has the chance to justify his coach’s faith on one of rugby’s biggest stages.
