Robbie Fleck’s brutal take on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – fans won’t like it

Robbie Fleck has voiced doubts about South Africa’s bold selection of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fly-half for Saturday’s Rugby Championship showdown with New Zealand in Wellington. The 23-year-old playmaker, who has been widely tipped as one of the brightest young talents in South African rugby, will start in place of the experienced Handré Pollard, forming a new half-back partnership with Cobus Reinach.

The Springboks’ backline for this clash is one of the most experimental in recent years. Damian Willemse moves into inside centre, Canan Moodie starts at 13, and rising star Ethan Hooker is handed his first start on the wing. They join a back three of Aphelele Fassi and Cheslin Kolbe, adding pace and flair but lacking battle-hardened cohesion.

Fleck, the former Bok midfielder and Stormers coach, admitted on the Boks Unpacked podcast that while the line-up brims with excitement, he fears it could be exposed by the All Blacks’ clinical attacking shape.

“It’s too many changes from my side,” said Fleck. “There are no established combinations that have had time together. Exciting individuals, yes – but defensively, Sacha, Damian and Moodie is a completely new midfield. The All Blacks will target that and really test them.”

Game management concerns

Central to Fleck’s concerns is Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s role as chief organiser. He drew a direct comparison with England’s Marcus Smith, another mercurial talent still developing the art of controlling matches at the Test level.

“From a game management point of view, Sacha is not quite there yet,” Fleck explained. “He’s dynamic; he can open up a defence, but he doesn’t consistently direct a team around the park. That’s why Pollard was recalled earlier in the tournament – to steer the pack forward, kick tactically, and control tempo. Right now, Sacha is more like Marcus Smith: brilliant individually, but still learning the craft of generalship.”

Pollard had steadied the Springboks after Manie Libbok’s start in the opener against Australia, but an enforced absence has opened the door for Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s biggest Test to date. Fleck conceded that the Stormers star made a notable impact off the bench against the All Blacks in Auckland, where incisive carries helped the Boks regain momentum. However, he maintained that playmaking responsibility against New Zealand, in Wellington of all places, is an immense challenge.

Balance in the pack

While critical of the backline reshuffle, Fleck praised the Bok loose forward trio of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese, calling it the strongest combination available. He believes their dominance at the breakdown could provide the platform for Feinberg-Mngomezulu to showcase his attacking flair.

Kolisi himself was upbeat ahead of his 96th Test cap, insisting that South Africa had learnt lessons from their 24–17 defeat in Auckland and were determined to produce an 80-minute performance. “There’s enough experience on this side,” he said. “Some of the new faces bring fresh energy, and we’re excited about that.”

For the Springboks, the stakes are enormous. A win would retain the Freedom Cup, keep their Rugby Championship defence alive, and potentially reclaim the world’s number one ranking. For Feinberg-Mngomezulu, it is a career-defining audition under the brightest spotlight rugby can offer.