Manie Libbok’s ability to handle pressure and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s defensive skills decided the Springbok No 10 race for Saturday, according to Rassie Erasmus.
Libbok will provide bench cover for Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the fourth and final Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between South Africa and the All Blacks in Baltimore.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts for a fifth straight Test, with Libbok again among the replacements after playing much of last week’s 29-24 win at 10 after injury to Chelsin Kolbe forced a backline rejig.
Handré Pollard is being lined up for the Wallabies clash on 26 September.
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“Handré is almost ready. We could have selected Handré as well, and he’ll probably play against Australia. It’s about consistency,” Erasmus said on Monday.
“The game is different in the last 30 minutes when everybody is a bit more tired … forwards are a bit more heavy-footed and struggle to fill the gaps.
“Apart from the skill that Sacha has, he’s a really good defender, and normally one of the big things that the All Blacks try and get [is attack].
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“Manie definitely did really well for us [last week]. But with Sacha, there are some areas where he’s not 100% hit his straps for us yet.
“But we must remember he was out for a very long time, and it’s only his fourth game back.
“Manie, we feel he can come on after five minutes if Sacha gets injured, and we know he can handle the pressure, but we might need him later in the game like we did last weekend.”
Erasmus noted Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s role in a scramble defence he expects New Zealand to test at the M&T Bank Stadium.
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“When the All Blacks make a linebreak, they put all of their speed into it … they certainly can cut us apart and finish some awesome tries, like they have been,” the Bok boss said.
“There’s not a defence system which I think they will not breach with the way they’re playing, and then the scramble defence becomes really important.
“When you have young, energetic guys like Sacha … those kinds of guys in your team, that helps a lot because they bring the energy and the speed. But the older guys bring calmness too. That combination is really important.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Why Sacha starts, Manie benched again appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Manie Libbok’s ability to handle pressure and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s defensive skills decided the Springbok No 10 race for Saturday, according to Rassie Erasmus.
The post Why Sacha starts, Manie benched again appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
