Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett believes Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu needs to make better decisions based on the quality of ball available to him.
After five consecutive Test starts, including all four against the All Blacks, Feinberg-Mngomezulu will play from the bench in Sunday’s clash against the Wallabies at Perth’s Optus Stadium. Handré Pollard gets a rare start at 10.
Speaking on the Talking Boks podcast, Mallett said Feinberg-Mngomezulu already possessed the skills required to control a match but needed to improve his timing and decision-making.
“Sacha’s big lessons are game-management lessons. He has to understand what quality ball he’s getting at what time,” Mallett said.
“At any given time he should be looking at the quality of ball that’s been delivered to him and take a decision based on the quality of that ball.”
Mallett believes Feinberg-Mngomezulu must recognise when the Springboks are under pressure and avoid exposing his backs.
“If it’s tap ball in the lineout and the players are pouring through, don’t pass that ball on to your backline. You’ve got to take it up yourself or stick it up in the air if you’ve got time to do that,” he said.
“If it’s really good ball, then you’re going to play your backline. If you’ve taken it through two or three phases and you haven’t got momentum, fall back on the kicking game that we’ve got at our disposal.”
The former coach stressed that the issue was not a lack of ability, but rather knowing when to use each option.
“It’s those decisions that he needs to take better, I would say. It’s not that he can’t do any of it. He can do every single one, but is he doing it at the right time for the players around him?”
Mallett also highlighted the importance of Feinberg-Mngomezulu recognising when the best option is to pass rather than attempt a linebreak himself.
“Sometimes it might be there for him to break the line because he sees a half-gap, but there’s a four-on-two and he should pass. Obviously you should pass with a four-on-two,” he said. “Game management is where he can improve.”
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Mallett also welcomed the opportunity for Herschel Jantjies to start at scrumhalf against Australia. Morné van den Berg provides cover from the bench.
“With regard to Herschel Jantjies, if you think about him, he’s technically an outstanding scrumhalf,” Mallett said.
“He’s very, very quick to the breakdown, he’s got beautiful passing skills and he’s got a dangerous break if you give him half a chance.
“He’s getting an opportunity. He’s been with the team for a long time and obviously you’ve got Morné van den Berg on the bench to come on in the second half. So I think that’s a good opportunity for Herschel.”
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Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Mallett pinpoints Sacha’s next big lesson appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett believes Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu needs to make better decisions based on the quality of ball available to him.
The post Mallett pinpoints Sacha’s next big lesson appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
