'We were unlucky': Feinberg-Mngomezulu reflects on tight calls in Stormers defeat

Feinberg-Mngomezulu had started on the bench, watching the first half unfold from the stands. It was his first experience of Stade Mayol, and it clearly left an impression.

"Everyone knows Toulon is quite a special place," he said. "Actually starting on the bench and just getting to see the atmosphere feels pretty special. The fans are so committed. French people love their rugby. It's a privilege to play out here."

His impact when he arrived on the pitch was immediate and devastating. Within minutes, he produced the chip kick that created the try to put the Stormers ahead at 20-14, a moment of such nonchalance and technical precision that it shifted the entire momentum of the game. Asked to explain the technique, he smiled.

"It's just a quick drop from the hands to the foot, just a grubber. But it must be done at good speed so there's no deflections."

Just a grubber. The best ten in the world makes it sound like a training drill. It was anything but.

On the game itself, Feinberg-Mngomezulu was generous in his assessment of Toulon's set piece but pointed in his frustration at how the Stormers' own dominance went unrewarded.

"As a French side, we expected them to have a strong set piece, and we actually handled them really well," he said. "I think we were very unlucky at the end. We could have got more reward out of the maul. We did everything we needed to do.

"I remember seeing JD Schickerling's feet in the air when he was trying to get the ball back to the back of the maul. I don't want to make any comments on what I saw, but I think we could have been a lot more fortunate with some of the calls towards the end. Pretty tough."

Asked about the brilliant Puma ten, Tomas Albornoz, who had tormented the Stormers all afternoon with his distribution and game management, Feinberg-Mngomezulu was generous.

"He carries the ball with two hands, good acceleration on the park, and he gets into the physical contest. He's a great player. We respect him. He's a national team player.

"We're supposed to play against each other for years to come and we will enjoy that. I think we have a similar philosophy.

"But they have some superstars; alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit, Charles Ollivon is the best flank around and he was immense today, and I said to him post-match, I really look forward to seeing him again -  in November, I think.

"Brex too, he was phenomenal in defence in their close out and those two guys were a big part of the RCT win. You want to play against players that test you of that calibre."

When asked whether he had considered dropping to the pocket for a drop goal in the final play rather than going for the try, the young ten frowned: "I was thinking about that just now.

"We thought we had them in the contest. It's not a game where we're looking for a bonus point. On reflection, I could have dropped into the pocket. But it's easy to say that when things don't go your way. Some people would vote for a try. Some people wouldn't."

And the penalty from 60 metres that drifted wide in the second half? Did he have the range?

"Sixty metres isn't a problem for me. I slotted 62 yesterday in the warm-up training. The breeze from the port was quite strong and just into our faces in the second half.

"You learn a lot from games like this; micro moments- it really was a knife edge match."

There was no arrogance in the delivery. It was simply a statement of fact from a 23-year-old who possesses a kicking game of extraordinary power and precision. Sixty-two metres in training. The wind got him, maybe next time it won't.

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