VIDEO: Matfield's take on Bok prospect - 'He's bigger than Manie'
SPOTLIGHT: Victor Matfield is expecting Handre Pollard’s successor to come from Cape Town, and it is not Manie Libbok.
That flyhalf comes in the form of Stormers young gun Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
When asked to assess the Stormers’ chances of winning more silverware in the future with Manie Libbok at flyhalf, Matfield couldn’t help but mention the 22-year-old, who is currently on the sidelines with a stress fracture in his ankle.
“If you can’t play the pressure game there is just no chance you will win a championship,” Matfield said during a URC media round table this week.
“Manie can play it.
“On his goal-kicking, he had an opportunity to put them in the Champions Cup quarterfinal and he missed it [against Stade Rochelais] and the wind was bad.
“I mean he has done it for them before – two years ago in the [URC] semifinal [against Ulster] when he had a kick and he made it.
“I’m a big fan of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. I think he is the next Springbok flyhalf.
“I would like to see the Stormers give him more time at No.10, not just at No.12.
“I still think they got a team that can go far in this competition.”
The story continues below…
When asked to explain why he thinks Mngomezulu will be the next Bok No.10, Matfield added: “He is a bit bigger than Manie.
“I think he can take the ball to the line and he’s got a big kicking game. As a schoolboy his goal-kicking was outstanding.
“I would like to see the Stormers throw the ball to him and let him take over the kicking, even if he plays No.12. Let Manie just play and then he [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] works himself into that No.10 jersey.
“As a schoolboy, I haven’t seen a No.10 like him. He was outstanding and at Under-20 level as well.
“At junior levels, he was just in a different class.
“We haven’t seen him in that No.10 jersey at senior level a lot – we’ve seen him once or twice.
“I love Manie and he’s got such good qualities, but there is a lot of talk about whether Manie will make that step up. He’s had a few opportunities.
“I like Manie and he is great, but I would like to see us give Sacha more opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Matfield said the Stormers will miss veteran flank Deon Fourie.
Last week, Fourie was ruled out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.
“I think losing Deon Fourie is a big loss for them even though he is close to 38,” said Matfield.
“He makes such a big difference in that team.
“Fourie brings a hard edge to the team. He is at the bottom of every ruck; he just throws his body at everything and he takes them forward.”
@rugby365com
