Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu “gambled” with his Springbok place by playing with an injury in the second test against the All Blacks in Cape Town.
This came to light as coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed that Feinberg-Mngomezulu was ruled out of next week’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship finale against Argentina at a sold-out Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit after struggling with a knee injury.
The injury will keep Feinberg-Mngomezulu out for four and a half weeks, Erasmus said, and he would only be able to be considered for the November tour again.
The young flyhalf has been the Springbok find of the season, and has impressed everyone with his talent and prowess, but it is clear he won few friends in the Bok management with the decision to hide the injury.
“Sacha injured himself before the first test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, and he played the game and went through the next week where I asked him why he was limping and he told me he was injured,” Erasmus told reporters in his press conference from Buenos Aires on Tuesday night.
“I actually wanted to pull him out of the team because he was limping on the field. That's what our players must understand and young guys must have respect for everybody. They need to be honest when it comes to injuries, because nobody at 80 per cent fitness is better than another player who is 100 per cent ready.
“Sacha is really lucky that we won both those test matches because he gambled a bit there,” Erasmus added.
When pressed on the nature of the injury, Erasmus said that it was a “knee injury.”
“I don’t have the details but the doctor said it would be around four and a half weeks. He will have surgery and be available for the November tour.”
SOME GOOD NEWS
Erasmus also gave an update - some good news - on the injury front with two World Cup-winners returning to action this weekend.
Jean Kleyn will make a long-awaited return from an eye injury for Munster in Round one of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship while Erasmus also confirmed that Damian Willemse is on track to be able to play this weekend.
Both RG Snyman and Franco Mostert would be available for the end of year tour while other injuries - including the likes of Steven Kitshoff, Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager and Edwill van der Merwe look to be more long term than that.