Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach gave his new halfback partner Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu some peace of mind ahead of what will probably mark the biggest match of the young pivot’s career.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu will run out in the No. 10 jersey against the Wallabies in the opening Test of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, with the experienced Reinach saying the entire team have the flyhalf’s back and wants him to go out there and showcase his true talent.
The Test will be Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s fifth in the green and gold jersey and will mark his first start, but the young pivot will be surrounded by several Rugby World Cup winners, one of which is Reinach, to guide him and allow him to express himself.
“I haven’t really played alongside him (Sacha) yet, but he’s shown that he’s got a good rugby head and that he’s a hugely talented player with that X-factor, so we want to see him go out there and enjoy the occasion,” said Reinach, who made his Bok debut almost a decade ago against Australia in Cape Town.
“He has the backing of the entire team, and we’ll stand together under pressure, so he just needs to go out there and be himself.”
With the Springboks currently holding the ranking as the No. 1 team in the world, eight positions above Australia who are in ninth place, Reinach said that statistic, along with the Wallabies’ good track record against the Springboks on their home turf, would only make them hungrier to make a strong statement.
“They have a new coach and new players, so there’s no doubt they’ll be desperate, especially since they are going in search of their fifth win in a row, so we need to go out there and execute our game plan as effectively as possible,” he said.
“There was a time when we also dropped down the world rankings and didn’t play good rugby, but that just made us more desperate as a team, and Australia is now in a similar situation. So, it’s vital that we stick to our structures and pitch up mentally and physically.”
Of the possibility of lining up against Nic White, Reinach said: “He’s a great player, and he likes to get into your head and take you off task, so the main thing for us will be to remain calm and stay focused on the job at hand. As a team, we are determined to go out there and put up a performance that both we and the country can be proud of.”