VIDEO: 'They have to earn their stripes to change the guard'
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus admitted that he had the 2027 World Cup in mind when he selected Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as his starting flyhalf for this weekend’s Rugby Championship opener.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Elrigh Louw (No.8) were the headliners in Erasmus’ team announcement for Saturday’s clash against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Both players will be making their first starts after four replacement appearances in their Test careers.
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“As we tell ourselves internally, we can’t look too far ahead and forget the present. We also just can’t look at the present and I think in the squad you can see that,” Erasmus explained.
“I think there are nine guys in the squad that weren’t regulars prior to the World Cup last year.
“I wouldn’t say it is the changing of the guard. It is about giving guys an opportunity while guys like Handre [Pollard] and Manie [Libbok] are helping to nurture them from Test match to Test match.
“When we went to the 2019 World Cup, we didn’t want to go with a guy with under eight or nine caps and I don’t think there has been a World Cup won with a flyhalf who is younger than 24.
“I think Jonny Wilkinson was the youngest
“We will rather blood a guy now and get him some proper backup with experience like Damian [de Allende] on his outside.
“It’s the same for Elrigh who plays at No.8.
“It is his fifth Test cap, so it is not a changing of the guard.
“It’s a squad of 45 guys trying to win each Test match with an eye on the future.
“But they have to earn their stripes to change the guard.”
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Erasmus believes the Springboks have created an environment where new players can express themselves.
“He [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] is starting at No.10 and No.10 is pivotal in every Test match, but he is somebody we know well,” Erasmus added.
“He is not someone who has just fallen into our system. He is someone who came through our system just like Damian Willemse did.
“We didn’t have 2020 to nurture some guys because of Covid, but now we do have 2024.
“What do we expect from him? With the guidelines on how we want to play on defence and attack, he must bring Sacha to the table like Handre brings Handre to the table.
“We all know what Manie does when he is on fire, and we are expecting the same from Sacha.
“We are hoping to create that environment where he can be himself and bring the natural talent like all the other guys.”
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Meanwhile, Damian de Allende said he will play his part to help Feinberg-Mngomezulu bring out his best at Lang Park.
“He is well spoken and he has got a lot of confidence, which I really enjoy,” said De Allende.
“It will be his first start and I know he will be quite nervous, but I hope that he will be composed.
“When he is composed and he expresses himself then he is exceptional, so I am looking forward to the Test match.
“I will try and keep him composed and let him express himself on that field and if plays his natural game, he will be a joy to watch.”
@rugby365com
