Rassie Erasmus has backed Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to rediscover his spark and resisted the temptation to change his flyhalf combination for Rugby's Greatest Rivalry finale in Baltimore on Saturday (kick-off 11pm).
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has started all three Tests against the All Blacks, but has yet to recapture the electric form he showed in 2025, while Manie Libbok made a telling impact off the bench in last week’s 29-24 victory in Soweto. Yet, Erasmus has kept faith with the young flyhalf, with Libbok again named among the replacements.
Handré Pollard is also fit and available, but Erasmus said he had opted for continuity ahead of the series decider.
“I think the first thing about the flyhalves is Handré. He’s ready. We could have selected him and he’ll play against Australia,” said the Springbok coach on Monday night from the US
“Consistency probably comes into it, and then also the game is different. The last 30 minutes, when everybody is a little bit more tired, there are obviously more gaps and forwards are a little bit more heavy-footed and struggle to fill the gaps.
“That suits Manie playing off the bench.”
Erasmus believes Feinberg-Mngomezulu offers something different in the opening exchanges, particularly with the All Blacks expected to come out firing.
“Sacha has obvious skills and many things that he can do well, but he’s also a really good defender,” he said. “That’s normally one of the big things, because the All Blacks try to get a really fast start.”
Erasmus conceded that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is not yet back to his best, but stressed that the 24-year-old is still finding his feet after a lengthy injury lay-off.
“Manie definitely did really well for us. But Sacha, obviously there are some areas where he’s not 100% hitting his straps for us yet,” he said. “But we must remember he was out for a very long time and it’s only his fourth game back.”
Erasmus also pointed to the security Libbok provides from the bench, with the flyhalf capable of stepping in early if needed, but potentially even more valuable when the game opens up in the final quarter.
“Manie, we feel he can come on after five minutes if Sacha gets injured and we know he can handle the pressure, but we might need him later in the game, like we did last weekend.”
With the Boks one victory away from claiming the series 3-1, Erasmus has otherwise resisted tinkering with a side that has delivered back-to-back wins over New Zealand.
“We feel that the team is well settled and all the players delivered in their respective roles in the last two matches,” he said.
“So we believe selecting the same match-day squad, and naming Damian back in his regular position, makes sense for the closing match of the series.”
Erasmus expects the All Blacks to throw everything at the Boks as they attempt to force a series draw.
“These players also know exactly what to expect from a very determined All Blacks team, who will give everything to draw the series this weekend,” he said.
“We have faced the All Blacks three weeks in a row, and just like us, they are a proud team who showed last week that they will never stop fighting until the final whistle. So, we are under no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge ahead this weekend.
“That said, we are equally determined to finish the series strongly and give everything to lift the trophy, and the players are excited about the match. We have no doubt that it’s going to be another epic encounter that will require a full-blown 80-minute effort on attack and defence.” | IOL Sport
South Africa matchday 23 v New Zealand in Baltimore
Springboks starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché; Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 André Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok