Feinberg-Mngomezulu spearheads clinical and brutal Boks to record win over Japan

Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starred for the Springboks as they predictably put Japan away at Wembley, setting the right tone for tougher examinations to come.

It was a record victory over Japan in only the fourth meeting between the sides, which came 10 years after the Brave Blossoms shocked the Boks at Rugby World Cup 2015.

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Feinberg-Mngomezulu is touched by genius, but it flourishes on the back of a brilliant team that creates opportunities for Sacha’s vision to thrive.

The flyhalf scored two first-half tries and 16 points in total, before being withdrawn early in the second half (presumably with an eye on the clash against France next week).

Each of his tries were brilliant, but in contrasting ways, which underlined his varied skills.

While Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a rare and generational talent, he is surrounded by world-class players who elevate his gifts.

For his first, Feinberg-Mngomezulu chased his own contestable kick into the Japan 22m area. It looked like he might have launched the ball a touch long, but such is his speed that he ate up the ground to win the contest in the air, pick up the scraps and score.

Five minutes later, Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored with a line break from 30m out, handing off lock Jack Cornelsen, and then surging past the desperate cover defence.

But it wasn’t only going forward where Feinberg-Mngomezulu thrived. He made a brilliant intercept five metres from his own goalline late in the first half, snaffling the ball from under Japan captain Michael Leitch’s nose. It was a try-saver.

He also kicked accurately, made his tackles and generally caused havoc for Japan. While Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a rare and generational talent, he is surrounded by world-class players who elevate his gifts.

Try glutton

One of those is wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, who scored twice on the night, and also created space for centre Jesse Kriel to score the last try of the night – and the Boks’ ninth.

Arendse now has 23 tries in only 28 Tests, and moved past Cheslin Kolbe and Pieter Rossouw on the all-time Bok try-scoring list.

In difficult, wet conditions the Boks made it look easy for the most part, thanks to maintaining their structure and giving Japan, and the match, the respect it deserved.

It never devolved into a mess with players trying to do too much.

The Boks have no shortage of quality wings to fall back on, but if they lose Nché for the battle against France, it will be a huge blow.

The Springboks’ set-piece strength and overall power game created a foundation for a comfortable win, which was the perfect hors d’oeuvres for the remainder of the tour.

The Boks also comprehensively won the breakdown battle where No 8 Jasper Wiese and hooker Malcolm Marx were supreme. Later, Kwagga Smith continued that good work.

The penalty count told a story with Japan conceding 13 penalties in all, compared to the Boks’ nine.

Overall, it was the perfect warm-up for next week’s “le crunch” in Paris, although coach Rassie Erasmus will have a furrowed brow over some potential injuries.

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Loosehead prop Ox Nché appeared to have suffered a lower leg injury when he was hit off the ball by Japan lock Warner Dearns, early in the second half. He left the field shortly afterwards.

Late in the match, impressive wing Ethan Hooker went for a head injury assessment and didn’t return, suggesting he failed his test, although that was not official at the time of publishing.

The Boks have no shortage of quality wings to fall back on, but if they lose Nché for the battle against France, it will be a huge blow.

Strong start

In front of a small crowd, the Boks made a strong start to put Japan immediately on the back foot, from where they never recovered.

Leitch knocked-on the kick-off and for the next two-and-a-half minutes Japan were under pressure, giving away two penalties.

From the second penalty, the Boks kicked to the corner, and from the rolling maul, captain Siya Kolisi rumbled over to quell any pre-game nerves.

Locks RG Snyman and Lood de Jager both had immense games, while Marx was brilliant.

Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach was also sharp, with Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel looking rock-solid in the midfield.

After Kolisi’s opening try, Feinberg-Mngomezulu helped himself to two tries and referee Eoghan Cross awarded a penalty try just before halftime as the under-pressure Japanese pack illegally sacked a maul close to the line.

Tighthead prop Shuhei Takeuchi received a yellow card for the offence.

After the break, the Boks continued the relentless pressure.

Tighthead prop Wilco Louw scored his first Test try after a jinking run by Kolbe, an explosive half-break by Feinberg-Mngomezulu and a superb offload by Kwagga Smith.

The tries kept coming – Arendse’s brace was scored on either side of an André Esterhuizen try. Esterhuizen was on at flank, after being introduced as Kolisi’s replacement.

Japan had a moment when fullback Yoshitaka Yazaki’s quick thinking with a quick tap close to the Boks’ line allowed the Brave Blossoms a rare moment of light in an otherwise gloomy day. DM

Scorers:

South Africa – Tries: Siya Kolisi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), penalty try, Wilco Louw, Kurt-Lee Arendse (2), André Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel. Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3), Manie Libbok (4).

Japan – Try: Yoshitaka Yazaki. Conversion: Lee Seung-sin.