‘They are a proper professional bunch’ – Springbok rookie’s frank assessment of Ireland

Springboks prodigy Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has given his take on how it was to play in the recent Test series against Ireland which was dubbed “Unfinished Business.”

South Africa and Ireland, who are the two leading teams in World Rugby’s official rankings, went head-to-head in thrilling encounters at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria and Kings Park in Durban.

In the build-up to the series, much had been said about Ireland’s impressive form during the Six Nations with some pundits reckoning they are the world’s best team while South Africans disputed that assertion following the Boks’ back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories.

A thrilling series

The men from the Emerald Isle were the only team to beat South Africa at last year’s global showpiece in France and in the end the series lived up to the hype as South Africa clinched a 27-20 win in Pretoria before Ireland sealed a stunning 25-24 victory in Durban thanks to two late drop goals from Ciaran Frawley.

For Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who saw action off the replacements bench in both encounters, the series with Ireland was everything he expected and more.

The 22-year-old gave a fascinating insight into how Boks head coach Rassie Erasmus prepared his troops for the Tests against Andy Farrell’s charges, who he rates highly.

“The whole week we kind of dissected how good a rugby team they are,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu told Heart FM’s Super Saturday Show. “They are a proper professional bunch of learners and students of the game, where they’ll find the technical ways to kind of get around your physicality.

“So that speaks volumes about them. They’re deep in this game man and they want this game like we do.

Springboks: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu ‘excited’ to make ‘another dream come true’ in Rugby Championship

“So to come up against opposition who are seen in the same light essentially and have to kind of showcase what you’re made of, I think it doesn’t get a better stage than that.

“So playing against those guys, I mean if that’s my second or third Test, that experience that I’ve gained there is what guys dream of down the line, so to get that in early and make a couple mistakes early you know it was it was a good experience.”

The utility back came on for the last five minutes of the Test in Pretoria before playing almost the entire game in Durban after veteran full-back Willie le Roux was forced off the field due to a head knock in the third minute.

When asked if he expected to be introduced to the action so early in that encounter, the Stormers star said: “Not at all! It was like I was right back at the DHL Stadium!

‘I just couldn’t believe my eyes’

“That’s how I made my debut for the Stormers (in 2022), quarter-final (of the URC), second minute and I just couldn’t believe my eyes, but, I was extremely excited.”

Feinberg-Mngomezulu revealed that he experienced an emotional rollercoaster when he came onto the field in that match.

“It was nerve-racking but so much excitement at the same time,” he explained.

“You’re playing against one of the best teams in the world. Guys that have been around the block. Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony. All these big names. And you get thrown into the pool to see what you can do.

“I felt really sorry for Willie though because he had steered the ship so nicely in that first Test (in Pretoria) but, on the other hand man, it’s a physical game we play so when your call comes you got to be ready. (After) two minutes? Nuts, but I was ready.”