Stormers captain Ruhan Nel says Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse will be key to creating opportunities against Zebre in Parma on Saturday.
With Willemse shifting to inside centre and Feinberg-Mngomezulu continuing at flyhalf, Nel believes the pair bring balance and creativity to a backline already strengthened by the return of fullback Warrick Gelant.
“Naturally, I think Gaza is also a great 15, but having him next to me in midfield is great. We’ve won the URC together and it feels familiar,” said Nel.
“Sacha’s a different kind of 10, you sometimes don’t know what he’s going to do, but that unpredictability makes him special. Between the two of them, you’ve got a mix of power, skill and vision that can really open teams up.”
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Nel said the experience of Willemse and composure of Gelant helps him manage the game defensively and structurally.
“From 13, it’s a huge help. Defensively the communication is clear and the spine of the backline is strong. It makes my job easier knowing how well they read the game.”
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Still, Nel cautioned against trying too much.
“With players like that behind you, you can quickly fall into a trap where you overplay and get carried away because you are sitting with a lot of strike power. The responsibility sits with us on how to unlock that potential.
“The challenge is knowing when to run and when to apply pressure. We live off transitions, it’s about kicking smart and applying pressure. If we stay patient and play smart, the chances will come.”
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Photo: Chris Fairweather/Gallo Images
The post Nel: Sacha, Gaza to unlock Zebre appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Stormers captain Ruhan Nel says Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse will be key to creating opportunities against Zebre in Parma on Saturday.
The post Nel: Sacha, Gaza to unlock Zebre appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
