Naas Botha has again voiced his admiration for rising star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, predicting that the young Springboks fly-half is about to revolutionize the position. After impressing on the international stage throughout 2025, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has rapidly become the go-to man for Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus in high-stakes matches.
Since his debut against Wales at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in 2024, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has earned 19 caps for South Africa. His performance in 2025 was particularly stellar, starting eight out of 11 Tests, all of which resulted in victories for the Boks with him wearing the number 10 jersey. His standout moment came during a Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Durban, where he not only scored a hat-trick but also shattered Percy Montgomery's record by scoring 37 points—the most by a Bok in a Test match. Throughout the season, he continued to dazzle, accumulating a record nine tries for a Springbok fly-half in a single year.
Despite the availability of seasoned players like Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok, and Jordan Hendrikse, Erasmus's preference for Feinberg-Mngomezulu in crucial games speaks volumes about his skills and reliability as a chief playmaker.
"I think at the moment Sacha is proving a point, and I think seriously he’s going to take fly-half play to a different level. He’s seriously going to take it to a different level,"
Botha remarked in a recent interview with SportsBoom.
Botha, who himself is a former Boks playmaker with 28 Test appearances, expressed his sympathy for other players in the fly-half role, suggesting that they might have to get comfortable on the bench as long as Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues his form. "If they have to sit on the bench a little bit, then you sit on the bench until he starts making mistakes," he said, underscoring the young player's current indispensability.
Botha also touched on the constant comparisons and debates over who is the best in each position, questioning the necessity of such comparisons.
"And the question I’m trying to raise is why must there always be who’s the better one? It depends on the coach what he wants for a particular game. If he wants that style and he believes that guy suits what he wants out of that game and if that’s Sacha, then that’s it."
This perspective highlights the strategic decisions made by coaches based on the match and opposition, rather than a fixed hierarchy of player skills.
As Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues to set new benchmarks and captivate rugby fans worldwide, Botha’s words serve as a reminder of the evolving dynamics and the bright future of rugby led by young talents like Sacha.
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Naas Botha has again voiced his admiration for rising star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, predicting that the young Springboks fly-half is about to revolutionize the position. After impressing on the international stage throughout 2025, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has rapidly become the go-to man for Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus in high-stakes matches.
Since his debut against Wales at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in 2024, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has earned 19 caps for South Africa. His performance in 2025 was particularly stellar, starting eight out of 11 Tests, all of which resulted in victories for the Boks with him wearing the number 10 jersey. His standout moment came during a Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Durban, where he not only scored a hat-trick but also shattered Percy Montgomery's record by scoring 37 points—the most by a Bok in a Test match. Throughout the season, he continued to dazzle, accumulating a record nine tries for a Springbok fly-half in a single year.
Despite the availability of seasoned players like Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok, and Jordan Hendrikse, Erasmus's preference for Feinberg-Mngomezulu in crucial games speaks volumes about his skills and reliability as a chief playmaker.
"I think at the moment Sacha is proving a point, and I think seriously he’s going to take fly-half play to a different level. He’s seriously going to take it to a different level,"
Botha remarked in a recent interview with SportsBoom.Botha, who himself is a former Boks playmaker with 28 Test appearances, expressed his sympathy for other players in the fly-half role, suggesting that they might have to get comfortable on the bench as long as Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues his form. "If they have to sit on the bench a little bit, then you sit on the bench until he starts making mistakes," he said, underscoring the young player's current indispensability.
Botha also touched on the constant comparisons and debates over who is the best in each position, questioning the necessity of such comparisons.
"And the question I’m trying to raise is why must there always be who’s the better one? It depends on the coach what he wants for a particular game. If he wants that style and he believes that guy suits what he wants out of that game and if that’s Sacha, then that’s it."
This perspective highlights the strategic decisions made by coaches based on the match and opposition, rather than a fixed hierarchy of player skills.As Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues to set new benchmarks and captivate rugby fans worldwide, Botha’s words serve as a reminder of the evolving dynamics and the bright future of rugby led by young talents like Sacha.