The Stormers’ next game is at home against the Sale Sharks in the Champions Cup on 11 January, and the Cape side would have loved to have young Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu available as they hope to continue their resurgence.
Unfortunately for the young utility back, it has been a frustrating period in terms of injuries.
Besides missing the Springboks’ end-of-year tour due to a knee injury, he has seen comeback performances consistently disrupted at the Stormers.
The 22-year-old had to be prematurely replaced against the Sharks in Durban due to concussion before, limping off the field in the 28th minute of the home clash against the Lions after a big tackle.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu is back on the sidelines at the Stormers
Most recently, he injured his shoulder straight from the kick-off in last Saturday’s URC match against the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium, and it’s clear that he won’t be rushed back.
“We took him to the edge,” Dobson said when describing how Feinberg-Mngomezulu soldiered on before being substituted just before half time.
“When he first went down, I thought: ‘We made a calamitous error as coaches’. We went six-two [a forwards-heavy bench] and he went down.
“It is his clavicle [collarbone] that went out was back in. We offered him to come off, but he said he wanted to keep trying.
“I am not sure if it was helpful for the team, but we should have pulled the trigger [taking him off] a little earlier. He was trying to push through to half-time.
“Three games in a row we have lost him within minutes and it is tough on him.”
The latest injury is not expected to sideline him for the long term, but he has apparently been told to rest until the pain and swelling goes away. If it doesn’t, he may need an MRI scan.
Meanwhile, Feinberg-Mngomezulu was recently named among 10 breakout rugby stars to watch in 2025 by the UK Daily Mail.
“What a name and what a talent – the rugby world needs him to put his injury troubles behind him in 2025,” wrote Alex Bywater in the Mail.
“Feinberg-Mngomezulu is already a senior Springbok with eight caps, but can go to another level this year.
“His appearances in the 2024 Rugby Championship indicated how much he has to offer the back-to-back world champions and he is one of a number of promising young talents coming through for Rassie Erasmus’ fearsome squad.
“Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a coming force. He just needs a run away from the treatment table,” Bywater added, referring to the player’s injury woes.
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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/stormers/will-feinberg-mngomezulu-be-back-for-stormers-next-game/