Former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers hails Boks' flyhalf depth

Feinberg-Mngomezulu delivered a virtuoso performance in the Durban demolition of the Los Pumas this past weekend, scoring a record-breaking 37 points.

But after 61 minutes, the prodigious talent was moved to fullback to relieve Damian Willemse and Libbok slotted in at flyhalf. The backline continued to fizz with Libbok pulling the strings, and the Boks ran in three more tries, including one of his own.

All this, while double World Cup winner and goalkicking iceman Pollard clapped from the stands.

Speaking on the Good, Bad and Rugby AUNZ podcast, de Villiers gave Feinberg-Mngomezulu his dues, but also praised Libbok.

"Libbok was very much part of the evolution of the team and where they want to go with the attack, and then it was the rise of Sacha," said the former centre.

"Sacha has shown what he can do, but this weekend, getting the start, putting up a performance like he did - you can just see that he is such a talented rugby player.

"I still think that in terms of managing a match and bringing the rest of the backline into the game, he will still grow into that.

"That is the element of his game where he still needs to grow, but that comes with time. But his individual skillset and what he did at the weekend, and when he just reacts, sees something and executes that.

"We speak about Sacha's performance, but when Manie Libbok came on, he was fizzing the ball, and the attacking nature of the team was totally different with him on the field," he said.

"When you have a base like that and a pack going forward that is so dominant, it's brilliant for a backline player. To then bring a guy like Manie on, it's such a fortunate position to be in."

Bok fans could be in with a repeat performance this weekend in the final 2025 Rugby Championship fixture. Feinberg-Mngomezulu is starting once again, with Libbok on the bench as cover. 

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