Dan Carter has praised Springboks star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, calling the exciting fly-half a “rare talent”.
Carter knows what it takes to shine at number 10. The All Blacks legend won two Rugby World Cups and scored 1,598 Test points.
He has now backed Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has quickly become one of the most exciting players in world
Speaking on For The Love Of Rugby: South Africa, Carter highlighted the 24-year-old's speed, confidence and ability to produce something special.
“He’s a rare talent,” Dan Carter said.
“He can flip a game just with one special play.”
The performance that convinced Carter
Carter pointed towards Feinberg-Mngomezulu's performance against the All Blacks in Wellington as the moment he realised just how good the Springbok could become.
“He just put in this devastating performance,” he said.
Carter added that the fly-half then went from “strength to strength” during South Africa's northern hemisphere campaign.
Perhaps more interestingly, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has also personally contacted Carter for advice.
“Sacha’s reached out, just asking a few questions every now and then,” Carter revealed.
The former All Black believes that willingness to learn is important, describing the Springbok as having a “growth mindset”.
Dan Carter identifies next challenge
Despite his huge potential, Carter stressed that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is far from the finished article.
“You don’t become a world class first five overnight,” he said.
Consistency and longevity will now be key.
Dan Carter also suggested Feinberg-Mngomezulu cannot yet be considered the “best game manager in world rugby”, with that side of his game expected to develop through experience.
He also faces serious competition for the Springbok number 10 shirt from Handre Pollard.
Carter described the double Rugby World Cup winner as a “world class 10” and believes his presence has helped South Africa carefully manage Feinberg-Mngomezulu's development.
Carter stopped short of declaring the youngster the world's best fly-half.
However, when discussing the leading number 10s in Test rugby, he suggested nobody has clearly separated themselves from the pack.
For Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the challenge is clear.
The talent is already there. Now he needs to prove he can deliver it consistently at the highest level.
