Bok star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu grateful to be back after injury layoff
17th April 2025
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Springbok wunderkind Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is confident his injuries are well behind him as the Stormers eye a playoff spot in the United Rugby Championship.
The prodigious talent has been sidelined by several injuries over the last seven months. He injured his knee in the 2024 Rugby Championship, then returned for just three rounds of the URC late last year before suffering a concussion against the Sharks. Later, a hip pointer blow sidelined him once again.
Currently, Feinberg-Mnogomezulu is firing on all cylinders. He earned the Player of the Match Award in the Stormers' win over Scarlets, then played 70 minutes in the narrow loss to Ulster. Starting at flyhalf, he contributed 23 points from the boot across those two outings, including two drop goals.
With his injuries in the rearview mirror, Feinberg-Mnogomezulu is grateful to be back doing what he loves.
"From September until March, I've had 90 minutes of rugby under the belt, which is almost seven months," the 2024 SA Rugby Young Player of the Year told the press this week.
"I have played more minutes in the last two games than I did in the past seven months, so I give myself a bit of leeway to make the odd mistake. That's what will keep me going. I don't want to be too hard on myself in that regard.
"Getting back on the field, doing what I love with the guys that I love is a special feeling. I'm extra grateful now to play, especially after such a long lay-off.
"To come back at a competitive part of the competition is a great time to be back and provide good answers for the boys."
It's crunch time for the Stormers in the race to the URC playoffs. The Cape Town franchise is currently in tenth place, but they are just four points off fifth in the congested mid-table. The Stormers have four home games in their sprint to secure a top-eight finish and Feinberg-Mnogomezulu believes only maximum points will do.
"Getting back home for us is important and it's going to give us the best possible chance of getting 20 points from these four games," added the 23-year-old.
"Having the crowd behind us will give us a good boost.
"[Bonus points] are kind of what separates the top teams from the mid-table in this competition. When you can get five points, take five points."
Starting this weekend, the Stormers host Connacht, Benetton, the Dragons and finally Cardiff on 16 May.
