All Blacks legend Dan Carter knows a thing or two about handling the pressure at first five-eighth, and the ‘GOAT’ believes Springbok No 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will step up to the plate in the second Test of rugby’s greatest rivalry at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The young Bok pivot endured a disappointing first Test at Ellis Park last week when the double world champions succumbed 33-16 to the All Blacks.
Coach Rassie Erasmus reacted instinctively this week by returning to the experience of the tried and trusted Handre Pollard, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu dropping to the bench for Cape Town.
However, Pollard, 32, suffered a hamstring injury during training and had to be replaced by the precocious Feinberg-Mngomezulu on Friday.
Carter feels the Stormers star showed during the Boks’ 43-10 mauling of the All Blacks in Wellington that he is up to the task in Test rugby.
“He’s a rare talent. We all saw last year what he’s capable of,” Carter exclusively told IOL Sport at a UNICEF reception hosted in partnership with the New Zealand Honorary Consulate in Cape Town.
“He can score plenty of points, completely change a game through momentum and his skill set.”
Carter was, however, heartbroken for Pollard, especially as the veteran was close to tears when he was forced to withdraw from the match-day 23, and expected him to still play a role in the Boks’ future.
“I really feel for Handre. He’s been such a stalwart for the Springbok side, patiently sitting on the sideline watching Sacha, and he had his opportunity,” Carter said.
“Unfortunately, he’s been injured, but he’ll come back. He’ll become stronger. We all know what he’s capable of, and he’s such a steady, reliable player, an absolute world-class player.
“The fact you’ve got so much talent and depth in that position, it’s a real strength of the Springboks.”
Springbok record points-scorer Percy Montgomery predicted this week that the kickers would be influential at DHL Stadium, especially with the weather being gloomy and rain expected, but Carter feels that the second Test will still be an exhibition of skill decided by the barest of margins.
“I’d say it’s going to be a close game,” he said. “You want to collect and kick all the points you possibly can. I’m sure it’s a lesson that they learnt at the Springboks last week. They had us under all sorts of pressure and didn’t accumulate points. I’m sure we’ll see if they get a few opportunities this week that they might take the three points.”
