Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has broken his silence on the ankle injury that will sideline him for three months, acknowledging his frustration whilst vowing to return in better shape than before.
The Springbok flyhalf sustained the injury after scoring a try in the 52nd minute of the DHL Stormers' 44-21 United Rugby Championship victory over Cardiff at DHL Stadium last weekend. Ankle-tapped in the act of grounding, Feinberg-Mngomezulu was seen on crutches afterwards and will now miss the remainder of the Stormers' season, including Saturday evening's semifinal against Leinster in Dublin.
"Frustrated, irritated and questioning why me?" he wrote on Instagram. "Sometimes the game reminds you that you're not invincible. Another injury, another chance to come back hungry, determined and focused. I've got a job to do, get back and get back better than I left."
The 24-year-old's absence extends beyond the URC campaign. He will be unavailable for the national team until at least the second half of the Greatest Rivalry Series against New Zealand in late August and early September, a significant blow given his standing in the international game.
Matthee steps in
Jurie Matthee, who replaced Feinberg-Mngomezulu against Cardiff and guided the Stormers through the final half-hour, is expected to start at flyhalf in Dublin. Whilst the two players offer contrasting styles, Matthee is highly regarded within the squad and has featured in significant away victories for the Cape Town franchise this season.
Stormers head coach John Dobson described the injury as looking "pretty serious" in the immediate aftermath. The loss of Feinberg-Mngomezulu, coupled with the concussion sustained by wing Seabelo Senatla in the same fixture, presents selection challenges ahead of the trip to the AVIVA Stadium, where no visiting side has prevailed this season.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu's return timeline suggests he could be available for the latter stages of the Rugby Championship, provided his rehabilitation proceeds without setback. For now, the focus shifts to Matthee and whether the Stormers' depth at flyhalf can carry them through the most demanding phase of their campaign.