Springboks’ Feinberg-Mngomezulu on Dan Carter talk: ‘I’m nowhere near that level’

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu may have just walked off with one of South African rugby’s most coveted individual honours, but the young Springboks flyhalf insists he’s nowhere near the summit of his abilities.

Awarded the MyPlayers Springbok Players’ Player of the Year after a breakout season in green and gold, he speaks more like a student than a superstar — a grounded playmaker who sees mentorship, competition and reflection as the fuel for his rise.

At the heart of his development, Feinberg-Mngomezulu says, is the daily proximity to seasoned maestros like Manie Libbok and Handré Pollard. Both World Cup winners. Both with vastly different styles. And both, in his words, “priceless reference points” for a young No 10 learning to navigate Test rugby’s hardest edges.

Their contrasting games — Libbok’s instinctive sparkle and Pollard’s ice-cold control — offer Feinberg-Mngomezulu a front-row seat to international rugby at the top level. He credits them not only for his technical refinement but also for helping him stay composed amid the intense expectations that come with wearing the Springbok flyhalf jersey.

However, there is one performance he returns to again and again: the Rugby Championship victory over Argentina in Durban — the day he amassed an incredible 37 points, the most ever by a Springbok flyhalf. For many players, a record-breaking haul like that would be a career postcard, framed forever in the hallway. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, though, treats it more like a compass than a trophy.

“I lean on that Durban performance quite a lot; not just for the good, but the bad too,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu said.

“In that game, I set up a kick in front of the post, and it hit the pole. I also had a kick from the right, and it hit the pole, and (luckily) it went in. Those are two moments... I read a book called Relentless, and in there it says, ‘hard work puts you where good luck can find you’, and that is one true thing.

“But also, I was two kicks away from possibly not having the record or a match that was talked about that much. I understand that within that game, which was so special, it was amazing for me with great moments. However, there were also missed opportunities and careless moments that need touching up.”

In his mind, the match represents both what he can produce at his best and where he still wants to sharpen — things like his decision-making, game management and kicking at goal. It’s the duality of that performance — dazzling highs and instructive lapses — that continues to drive him.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu was quick to dismiss comparisons between himself and All Blacks legend Dan Carter, saying he has achieved nothing close to the former international flyhalf.

“It is a great compliment,” he said when quizzed about the comparisons.

“However, Dan won three World Rugby Player of the Year prizes, and he also won two World Cups; I have zero of those. So, it is a give-and-take thing. It is fun to talk about it, but you have to respect someone’s legacy and acknowledge that I am a 19-cap Springbok without a World Cup game under my belt.

“So, putting us in the same bracket doesn’t make sense, because I haven’t been pressured to perform on a stage that he has.”

According to Feinberg-Mngomezulu, now that the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw has been finalised, they can park the idea of the tournament and focus on what needs to be done in 2026.

The Boks will host England, Scotland and Wales in the mid-year Tests that start the Nations Championship next year. All eyes, though, will be on Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry between the world champions and the All Blacks. The two sides face each other in three matches in South Africa, with a fourth Test at a neutral venue.

“In terms of potential success at the 2027 World Cup, next year is a huge fundamental part of it. We should not shoot ourselves in the foot by thinking about the World Cup now. We did well staying present this season, and it is a blueprint going forward until well beyond 2027.”

As the Springboks look toward a new cycle with fresh combinations and deeper squad depth, Feinberg-Mngomezulu stands as one of the brightest lights of the next generation. Yet the award-winning flyhalf’s focus remains rooted in growth, humility and absorbing every lesson available as he establishes himself further on the international scene.