John Dobson isn't having any of the Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu "vitriol." The Stormers boss has jumped to the defence of his flyhalf ahead of this weekend's massive North-South derby against the Bulls. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Stormers coach John Dobson has hit out at the critics and "keyboard warriors" who have been attacking the current form of flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The 24-year-old Springbok has had some iffy performances recently for the Cape side, who have lost their last three United Rugby Championship (URC) matches.
“The noise around Sacha is a concern,” Dobson said at a media conference, ahead of Saturday’s URC match against the Bulls in Pretoria.
“He is a youngster, and there is so much emotion in the sport,” Dobson added. “Sacha was being hero-worshipped a few months back, but anyone now can say what they think and be published (on social media), and the stuff gets around, never mind what respected journalists say.
“There are a lot of comments about him, and he would have to be extremely tough for it not to affect him. He is a youngster with a massive future and will be a great for South African rugby.”
Dobson said he had taken note of Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown’s recent comments about Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The Kiwi noted at a Springbok media day that the youngster should use the players around him more effectively.
“We listen to what a guy like Tony says,” Dobson reflected.
“But it is a very different environment at the club (the Stormers), where he has been the captain and is desperate for us to win, to the environment at the national team where there are huge resources on and off the field. You have a massive pack of forwards who can bail you out, and you have guys with hundreds of caps of experience around you.
“Tony is dead right in that Sacha is maybe trying to do too much, but we know where it is coming from,” the coach continued. “He is just desperate for the Stormers to win.
"We would rather have that than somebody who is disinvested or trying to look after his body. We just have to coach better to make sure he takes those right options.
“But with the noise around him, I just cannot understand how there can possibly be vitriol towards a guy who has such X-factor and so much promise for the Stormers and the Springboks. You don’t become the world’s best game-managing flyhalf in your first couple of years.
"It will come, but he has to serve the hours. He will definitely get there.”
* Mike Greenaway is a senior rugby reporter at Independent Media and a contributor on our Last World on Rugby podcast on our YouTube channel, The Clutch.