DHL Stormers boss John Dobson sends heartfelt message to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been hailed as “a generational talent” by his DHL Stormers boss John Dobson.
The Springboks star has been in sparkling form of late, scoring 50 points, including four tries, during Cape Town victories over Connacht Rugby and Benetton Rugby in the last two rounds of the Vodacom URC.
He is sure to be a key figure for the sixth-placed DHL Stormers as they set their sights on making a big impact in the play-offs.
Giving his thoughts on the 23-year-old fly-half, Dobson said:
“I am the coach of the team he plays in, but I can’t claim to have coached him for a second. He is a generational talent.
“He is such a good guy and so level headed.”
Dobson says that’s all the more important with the hype surrounding the versatile young back having gone stratospheric.
“We had that with Siya (Kolisi) when he was here before he went to the Sharks,” he said.
“He would walk into a petrol station and you would have people howling and dropping their pumps!
“It feels curious for the team. When one player is elevated by hype above the rest of the team, it’s sort of contrary to rugby values. That worries me a little bit from a team perspective. It’s a tricky one.”
FUTURE REFLECTION
Reflecting on what the future holds for the eight-time capped Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Dobson said:
“Probably our biggest challenge is to make sure he stays on the field.
“That’s not something we control.
“It’s nerve-racking stuff because he has done his knee twice.
The Sharks have one game to come in the league phase of the URC season after the Hollywoodbets Kings Park clash with the 11th placed Ospreys and then they head into the URC Finals Series a fortnight later, with their first opponents likely to be the DHL Stormers in the quarterfinal round.
In that bye week there is a Bok alignment camp scheduled, but according to Sharks boss Plumtree, the majority of the four players missing from Friday night’s selection – scrumhalf Grant Williams (neck), flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse (back), centre Lukhanyo Am (knee) and loosehead prop Ox Nche – should be available not only for their national duties but also possibly the Scarlets game that rounds off the league season.
