Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has recalled the tongue-lashing he once received from fellow Springbok Eben Etzebeth.
The squad newbie shared the hilarious account in an interview on the rugby podcast Behind The Ruck last week.
SACHA FEINBERG-MNGOMEZULU TALKS EBEN ETZEBETH ‘WARNING’
Speaking to Behind The Ruck co-hosts Rudy Paige and Juan de Jongh, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu attempted to explain the sensitive nature of respecting his “elders” in his clubs, the Stormers and the Springboks.
As a 22-year-old, Sacha is one of the youngest players in both squads.
He said: “It’s tough when you’re coming into a senior environment. For the first couple of weeks, I didn’t say anything, and that didn’t do so well for me”.
After a while, Sacha – who plays as a number 10 or flyhalf – claims that with hard work came respect, which in turn earned authority.
When asked if he ever had an incident involving an older player, Sacha recounted a time when he received a “warning” from Eben Etzebeth, who previously played for the Stormers.
During one particular training session, Sacha explained that he had jumped up to catch a high ball.
He said: “Eben Etzebeth was in front of me, so I tried to beat him with my feet, go past him, and place the ball on the floor. As I place it, he says: ‘Do that again, and I’ll break you’”.
Sacha stated that he sheepishly apologised to the veteran player afterwards.
Sacha also claimed he also got a friendly warning from another Stormers player, Sergeal Peterson, after another training session.
He continued: “I tackled him once or twice, overboard. He sent me a message and said: ‘No Sacha, that’s not what’s up.”
After apologising, he said, “Sergeal said: ‘It’s fine, as long as you do it on the weekend.’”
WORLD RUGBY AWARD NOMINEES
Meanwhile, both Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Eben Etzebeth are nominated for the World Rugby Awards.
Sacha – who has eight caps and made his Springboks debut earlier this year – is nominated for the Breakthrough Player of the Year Award. Eben – the highest-capped player with 129 test appearances – is nominated for Player of the Year.
HAS SACHA FEINBERG-MNGOMEZULU EARNED HIS RESPECT AS A SPRINGBOK PLAYER?
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