South Africa Springboks rugby Italy Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Digi Mart USA News (Turin, Italy): The Coupe du monde 2027 is already close, and the Championnat des nations, which runs through November, serves as a dress rehearsal before the World Cup. Even with the Six Nations coming early next year, the tournament is being closely watched.
Double defending champion South Africa remains the team to beat. Despite the absences of Etzebeth and Kolbe, the Springboks began their autumn European tour by overwhelming Italy on its home ground, winning 66-7, with a 45-0 lead at halftime.
What stands out is that, compared with their title-winning sides of 2019 and 2023, South Africa now has a new weapon. Under Rassie Erasmus, the team was used to a game-managing No. 10, particularly one strong with the boot.
With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the Boks offer far more than that.
The Stormers fly-half is a talented player who can change a match in many ways, notably through his running speed and sense of play. He showed this Saturday in Turin, scoring a dazzling try in the 8th minute to launch his team’s rout.
The source notes that this is not the kind of play Handré Pollard would have produced.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu is not a new discovery, but he regularly confirms his talent. He is another danger for future opponents of South Africa to monitor, notably the French XV.
The Springboks will face France at Saint-Denis in six days.
