Despite a poor start, Sacha Feinberg- Mngomezulu believes the Stormers can still be in contention at the business end of the United Rugby Championship (URC) competition.
The 22-year-old sensation made a massive impact when he burst onto the international scene for the Springboks earlier this year.
The supremely talented utility back recovered from the concussion he picked up in the clash against the Sharks at Kings Park in Durban and is available for selection against the Lions in Cape Town on Saturday.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who was nominated for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year, believes it’s still early days in the competition.
He believes the Cape Franchise’s injury woes are a thing of the past, with the return of some seasoned campaigners.
The playmaker wants to use the URC as a stepping stone to grow his game.
“For any player, franchise rugby is the step to get to international rugby. So I don’t take for granted any moment I have here, and I know this is a stepping stone to becoming a better player,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“I’m just working hard here and trying to do my job correctly, then we will hopefully get some good outcomes from that.
“The national team isn’t something you consciously think about when you’re in the setup here, but just executing your individual roles will set you up for your journey.”
For now we just want to put our best foot forward in the URC and let the rest take care of itself. The international window is six, seven months away; it’s a long time. Two good fixtures in two weeks and it’s a whole different story.”
A generational talent with supreme skills on attack, defence and from the kicking tee, eight-Test Feinberg-Mngomezulu produced some eye-catching performances in his breakthrough season for the Boks.
Reflecting on his rapid rise, he added, “I had ambitions of representing the national side, yet I didn’t think it would go as well as it did, so looking back on it I can only feel blessed.
“The year has been a big learning curve… Looking forward, I just want to keep this momentum.”
The Lions travel to Cape Town on Saturday in fifth place on the URC table and off the back of a big victory against Pau at Ellis Park, their first win in the EPCR Challenge Cup this season.
On what the Stormers expect from the Pride, Feinberg-Mngomezulu said: “It is a South African derby, so we know them quite well and we know what to expect.
“I’m sure they will make plans for us and Saturday will be about who can stick to their plan or, when things go wrong, make a better one.”
