Big Vic not panicking over Sacha setback

Springbok legend Victor Matfield believes South Africa’s flyhalf stocks are strong enough to absorb the loss of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

The Bok pivot faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in the Stormers’ Vodacom URC quarter-final victory over Cardiff, potentially ruling him out of the early stages of the Springboks’ international season.

But Matfield is confident the world champions have the depth to cope.

“That’s rugby and that’s why Rassie works so hard to make sure there’s a lot of depth and there are people who can step in,” Matfield said on the Rivals podcast.

“It’s not bad to have Handré Pollard or Manie Libbok come in for Sacha, that helps quite a bit. Handré is playing fantastic rugby for the Bulls at the moment.”

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The former Bok captain also downplayed concerns about the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

When asked by New Zealand great John Kirwan whether he was worried about the All Blacks, Matfield replied: “Do we need to be?”

The conversation then shifted to scrumhalf Embrose Papier, who has enjoyed a standout season for the Bulls and was recently included in a Springbok alignment camp.

“Embrose Papier has been outstanding the whole year,” said Matfield. “There was quite a lot of unhappiness with the first two alignment camps when he wasn’t there. Everyone said, ‘How can he not be there?’ He’s probably the No 1 scrumhalf in South Africa at the moment.”

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With Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Morné van den Berg and Cobus Reinach all battling injury concerns, Matfield believes Papier has seized his opportunity.

“His kicking game is on point and he’s always dangerous around the ruck,” he said. “This last season he’s been outstanding.”

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images

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