Sports Etc
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s Inspiring Return: Stormers Aim to Turn Season Around Against Lions in URC
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s rise to rugby stardom seemed unstoppable after his standout performances for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship, dazzling fans with his running, kicking, and audacious offloads. But a knee injury followed by a concussion have kept the 22-year-old playmaker off the field in recent months, forcing him to work hard off the pitch to regain fitness.
Now fully cleared, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is eager to return to action for the struggling Stormers in their United Rugby Championship clash against the Lions at Cape Town Stadium this Saturday at 3:45 PM. The utility back’s absence has coincided with a tough run for the Stormers, including losses to Toulon and Harlequins in the Champions Cup, but the return of key players like Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a welcome boost as they aim to get their season back on track.
The Stormers sit 13th on the URC table with just 11 points, having won only two of their six games, while the Lions are in a more solid position in fifth with 19 points. Assistant coach Dawie Snyman confirmed that alongside Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Springboks Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, and Ben-Jason Dixon are expected to feature in this crucial match if they come through training unscathed.
“It’s been frustrating that every time I get some momentum, injuries set me back,” said Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who will likely start at flyhalf in place of the injured Manie Libbok. “But I’ve done all the rehab and am fully prepared to get back into action. I’m just looking forward to building some momentum again, playing good rugby, and taking it week by week.”
Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s last appearance was against the Sharks, where he kicked a drop goal in a 21-15 loss before suffering a concussion. Despite the setback, he was thrilled to be back on the field. “That game kept me going, and I’ve been looking forward to this fixture since then,” he said. “It’s just been great to get back into the group and prepare for the challenge ahead.”
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Stormers coach John Dobson will be hoping Feinberg-Mngomezulu can inject some direction into the backline, which has struggled to capitalize on the hard work of the forwards. The young playmaker, who has already shown his potential in his eight Test caps, is eager to make an impact against a fast Lions side.
“There’s a big responsibility on me, no matter where I play, and I take that seriously,” said Feinberg-Mngomezulu. “We all know that this is a big game, and we’re preparing for it with that in mind. We’re in a good space as a team, and we understand that we need to take advantage of the small moments in games to turn things around.”
With plenty of home games still to come in the URC season, Feinberg-Mngomezulu believes the Stormers can still turn things around and make a strong push for the playoffs. “It’s a nice pressure to play in front of the home crowd, and remind everyone that we’re a top team,” he said. “We’ve got everything in place to get back to winning ways.”
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