Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has described his experiences with the Springboks as “crazy” and “insane” after making his international debut for the world champions just over a month ago.

The 22-year-old utility back made his Test bow when he came on as a second-half replacement for South Africa in their win over Wales at Twickenham last month.

Played in all the Springboks’ Tests in 2024

He has been involved in all of the Springboks‘ Tests so far this year, after also making cameos in the two games against Ireland – in Pretoria and Durban – and in the historic Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has taken like a duck to water to international rugby, revealed how motivated he was to get onto the field for his Springboks debut and the build-up to that big occasion.

“That Monday is when it usually happens (when he found out he was in the matchday 23),” he told Heart FM’s Super Saturday Show. “You kind of get a feel for where you’re going to play and then the whole week these coaches prime you and get you mentally ready, and physically ready, and those conversations always take part early in the week.

“So by the time you get to Thursday, Friday, Saturday, your downtime or your short weekend as we call it, rugby’s the last thing on your mind, you’re resting your body getting your recovery in and and when Saturday comes you’re recharged and ready to go.”

Pre-match nerves is a usual occurrence for most rugby players – especially when they make their Test debuts – but that wasn’t the case for the Stormers star, who revealed that he was quite calm before taking to the field against Wales.

“I’m reading a book called Relentless at the moment, by Tim Grover, and it speaks about athletes getting into the zone and finding your way into the zone and I must say that game, that first game was the most in the zone I think I’ve felt,” said Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

“And I’m sure the other debutants (felt similarly) because that’s your everything! It’s fight or flight at that point and getting the tap, you’d think you’d feel nervous but, I would say, I felt calm and I’m ready to go perform.

“You kind of block out the crowd and all that. You’re just in this, like in this zone, like I said and yeah it was like I said a crazy experience.”

The Springboks prodigy admitted though that his time spent on the bench that day at Twickenham was a bit of a blur as everything happened at a hectic pace.

“It’s crazy! It happened so fast man, and you’re sitting there and the interesting thing about being on the bench is you can’t fully get yourself into the game because you don’t want to burn out by the end of the game (by) being too focused,” said the former South Africa U20 captain.

“So, being able to get the tap on the back to go on the field and mentally switch on straightaway is one thing in itself but coach Rassie (Erasmus) is a guy that you want to get a tap on the back from to go on the field.”

Shone against Wales

Shortly after coming on to the field against Wales, Feinberg-Mngomezulu left his stamp on that match when he slotted a monster penalty from about 53 metres out.

He revealed that he was in a confident mood when he entered the fray and approached some senior Bok players on the field about the penalty attempt.

“Actually, I turned around to Bongi (Mbonambi) and I said: ‘please can I have the ball?’ And Bongi was like: ‘Bro, I’m not the captain! Speak to Pieter-Steph (du Toit).’

“So I already I knew I wanted that kick. It was needed on the scoreboard too. It was scoreboard pressure. We were 11 points up, so that kick would take us to now two converted tries (up) which is a level of comfort. So yeah I had to ask Pieter-Steph for that ball and he trusted me which was incredible.

“I haven’t played with the guy you know and he trusted me and he gave me the ball and he told me to kick it and they (the rest of the team) all followed suit, they backed the call, which is also incredible.

“A guy on his debut, it’s a bit of a shaky call sometimes to some people. But everyone sort of bought into the situation and helped me get the best result.”

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Springboks: Victor Matfield’s prestigious all-time appearance record for South Africa coming under threat in Rugby Championship

Seven Springboks have had the honour of running out in the hallowed Green and Gold over 100 times in the team’s history and one of those men is set to raise the bar higher than ever before.

Victor Matfield is the most capped Springbok in history having represented the side on 127 occasions in two stints, the second of which saw the former line-out general come out of retirement to take part in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The great lock debuted for the Springboks in 2001 and went on to win the Rugby World Cup in 2007 under the tutelage of Jake White.

The challenger

Bearing down on Matfield’s record is one of the greatest to ever put on the jersey in the form of enforcer Eben Etzebeth, who sits on 122 caps for the Springboks and is well poised to make a charge this year.

The physical superstar has been a mainstay in South African colours since he ran out for the first time in 2012 and has been a prolific winner, claiming two World Cups (2019, 2023) in the process.

Even at the age of 32 Etzebeth is one of the first names on the team sheet and that looks like it will not change in the near future. In fact, the second-row could surpass Matfield if he was to play in every Rugby Championship fixture in the upcoming tournament.

Etzebeth’s esteem as a Springboks legend will only strengthen when, rather than if, he takes the all-time record for himself.

Centurions

Former full-back Percy Montgomery was the first Springbok to pass the century mark and only managed a couple of extra games to end with an impressive 102 caps.

Further up the list is a pair of captains in the form of Jean de Villiers (109) and John Smit (111), the latter still holds the record for most appearances as skipper with a whopping 83.

The only other centurion was one who went out with a bang, Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, whose last act as a Springboks was hoisting the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

Future centurion

There is only one Springbok who could reach the century this season and it is none other than two-time World Cup winner Willie le Roux, who has been nothing but a servant to the jersey since his debut.

Despite taking huge flack throughout his Test career Le Roux has shone in Green and Gold, almost single-handedly running the attack. When he reaches the milestone it will be well and truly deserved.

Other active players

There could well be more centurions coming out of the core of the Rassie Erasmus era with inspirational skipper Siya Kolisi (85), Steven Kitshoff (83) and Damian de Allende (81) the next highest-capped players.

Springboks’ all-time leading appearances

(Name, caps)
* – Active player

Victor Matfield – 127
Bryan Habana – 124
Eben Etzebeth – 122
Tendai Mtawarira – 117
John Smit – 111
Jean de Villiers – 109
Percy Montgomery – 102
Willie le Roux* – 95
Joost van der Westhuizen – 89
Ruan Pienaar – 88
Schalk (jnr) Burger – 86
Siya Kolisi* – 85
Bakkies Botha – 85
Steven Kitshoff* – 83
Damian de Allende* – 81
Os du Randt – 80
Bismarck du Plessis – 79
Pieter-Steph du Toit*- 79
Francois Steyn – 78
Mark Andrews – 77
Fourie du Preez – 76
Francois Louw – 76
Franco Mostert – 76
Duane Vermeulen – 76
CJ van der Linde – 75
Jaque Fourie – 72
Frans Malherbe* – 72
Jesse Kriel* – 71
Bongi Mbonambi* – 71
Handré Pollard* – 71
JP Pietersen – 70
Juan Smith – 70
Jannie du Plessis – 70
Morné Steyn – 68
Trevor Nyakane* – 68
Malcolm Marx* – 67
André Venter – 66
Adriaan Strauss – 66
Lood de Jager* – 66
Breyton Paulse – 64
Danie Rossouw – 63
Faf de Klerk* – 58

Pat Lambie – 56
Ollie le Roux – 54
Pierre Spies – 53
Gürthro Steenkamp – 53
Joe van Niekerk – 52
Vincent Koch * – 52
Albert van den Berg – 51